Juvenile Watch: Desert Hero has enormous potential
By Ross Millar
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
In his latest weekly column focusing on the two-year-olds, Ross Millar gives his early views on the juvenile races at this week's July Festival and some names to note for your Racing TV Tracker.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
While not this week's winner, Rocket Rodney deserves a honourable mention after he made it two wins from four starts in the Listed Dragon Stakes last Friday.
George Scott’s colt showed good speed and a liking for the stiff Sandown finish to run out a ready winner after previously chasing home Little Big Bear in the Windsor Castle Stakes. Juveniles can often struggle with consistency but this son of Dandy Man looks to be progressing nicely as Eddie’s Boy, who was just under two lengths behind at Royal Ascot, was comfortably brushed aside by a near four-length margin.
Scott suggested that the Molecomb Stakes will be next and also hinted that there may be yet more to come if he was given pace to aim at. Whatever the opposition at Goodwood, Rocket Rodney merits close consideration.
However, performance of the week goes to the Haydock debut winner DESERT HERO, trained for The Queen by the increasingly impressive William Haggas. By Sea The Stars out of an unraced sister to former Hardwicke Stakes winner Dartmouth, his pedigree suggested that the seven-furlong trip might be on the sharp side and that certainly looked to be the case for the opening three furlongs here.
Although he broke on terms, Tom Marquand was noticeably lower in the saddle than others as he cajoled Desert Hero into the bridle but approaching the final three furlongs the penny was dropping and he was starting to find his stride - so much so that Marquand was able to take a small pull. He took a while to find top gear but quickly overhauled New Endeavour – who had travelled much the best into the race – before powering away to win by an ever-extending three lengths.
Runner-up Captain Winters and eventual third New Endeavour were guilty of setting slightly generous early fractions and consequently failed to see out the trip as well as the winner, yet that shouldn’t detract from the performance. He can only improve when stepped up in distance and is from a yard that produces them to progress with each run. He’s a horse of enormous potential.
As a footnote, it may pay to keep the second and third in your Racing TV Tracker as they are more than up to winning a similar contest if racing more efficiently.
NURSERY TIME
Love Fifteen (Adrian Keatley)
She rallied very late in the day to force a dead heat for third at Ripon on Monday and that effort can be upgraded as she was held up in a race where it paid to be ridden close to the pace.
This represented a giant step forward from her debut effort at York where she was noticeably green when finshing eighth and, while she might well be found a winnable opportunity by her astute connections, she needs one more run before getting a mark and I’d suggest nurseries are far more realistic.
She’s definitely worth adding to your Racing TV tracker.
NEWMARKET JULY FESTIVAL
As we approach the half way point of the season all attention turns to the July course at Newmarket, and with a two-year old contest on each day I’ve looked at the early entries.
Close Brothers July Stakes (2.25, Thursday)
Persian Force bids to emulate his sire Mehmas with victory in the July Stakes for Richard Hannon (Photo: Focusonracing.com)
Little Big Bear will have his supporters after creating a good impression when winning the Windsor Castle Stakes and, with the extra furlong looking sure to suit, he may well find more improvement.
Ross Millar
Finished: 1stSP: 1/2
My preference is the Richard Hannon-trained Persian Force, who lost nothing in defeat when finishing runner-up in the Coventry Stakes. He had previously gained two facile wins at Doncaster and Newbury and I expect the experience of the Ascot tussle to have improved him plenty. I’ll be disappointed if he is beaten in this.
Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (2.25, Friday)
I don’t think we saw the best of Mawj in the Albany Stakes and I felt Ray Dawson sacrificed field position at a crucial time. She impressed me enormously on debut and I’d dearly love to see this half-sister to Modern Games get back to winning ways for Saeed Bin Suroor.
Tagline endured a troubled passage when flying home late over course and distance behind Lezoo last time. The winner admittedly scored cosily, but the current 20/1 available for Rod Millman’s filly is far too big.
bet365 Superlative Stakes (3.15, Saturday)
A poignant success for the late Roaring Lion in the Group Teo bet365 Superlative Stakes?
Alfred Munnings was the biggest disappointment of my Royal Ascot week as he failed to deliver any performance at all in the Chesham. He’s surely better than that but I’d have no interest in backing him at his current price of 5/2, especially as it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see connections keep him in Ireland. Not having to travel might remove one possible hurdle in getting him back to form.
The premature loss of Roaring Lion was a hammer blow for Qatar Racing and they were very active at the sales trying to secure a good number of his debut crop. The 7,000gns David Redvers paid for Lion Of War as a yearling certainly looks an outstanding piece of purchasing as he’s won both starts in good style. This is tougher but I expect him to thrive on this track, and there would certainly be no more popular winner.
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