Juvenile Watch: Prix Morny review and Solario preview

I had been left slightly underwhelmed by the performance of  Venetian Sun  in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.

Yes, she won and in doing so kept her unbeaten record intact, but I wasn’t convinced she ran powerfully through the line, though it was clear connections felt she was idling in front.

Her performance in the Prix Morny was far more convincing. She enjoyed a dream passage through the race getting cover off eventual runner-up Gstaad.

When the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt started to come under more serious pressure, jockey Clifford Lee switched her to the right and was able to make forward progress without having to ask for maximum effort.

She then showed a tremendous attitude to fight to the front at one point getting three quarters of a length clear, before the strong-staying Gstaad closed the gap to just a neck at the line, though again the impression was that she only does enough when in front.

Trainer Karl Burke seems confident she’ll stay seven furlongs and reported that the Moyglare Stud Stakes will be her next target; he’s been proven correct in his assessment of her so far.

She does show plenty of speed through the mid part of her race, but crucially, she looks the consummate professional and relaxes beautifully. Her dam didn’t win beyond six furlongs, but did have placed form at up to ten furlongs.

She’s the one to beat in the Moyglare, but I’ll wait until after then to weigh up whether the mile trip of a Guineas would be in range.

Gstaad hit a flat spot as the tempo quickened but rallied gamely, he’s clearly not as pacey as his brother Vandeek and looks ready for a step up to seven furlongs.

Coppull had won the Richmond Stakes over this trip on his latest start but turned in a disappointing effort, he raced too freely in the early stages when lacking any cover. I’d be inclined to forgive this run, though the Richmond is not a form line that I hold in high regard.

3.35 - Saturday (7f, Group Three)

This looks like it will be a strong renewal. Publish, for the same connections as last year’s winner Field Of Gold, is the current favourite and has two strong pieces of course form to his name.

Firstly, when finding traffic problems on his debut before rallying into second place and then latterly, when running out a ready winner at the end of July, scoring by over a length from future winner Catullus. This will, however, require another step forward.

Furthermore, I’m not fully convinced that Colin Keane has quite yet settled into the rhythm of UK races and on a number of occasions this season I feel he’s been tactically naive; I doubt he’ll race as prominently as he did when winning on his latest start and that opens the potential for a troubled passage. This coupled with his short price compels me to look elsewhere.

Zanthos was tremendously impressive when waltzing away to win a maiden on her debut, she won easily but the form is hard to assess. The race was confined to unraced fillies and she’ll be the first to return to the track.

I’m also mindful that she may not have learned all that much at Newmarket, she was quickly in front and was never challenged, this race will likely have a very different setup and her inexperience might cost her. I reluctantly pass her over, though I do think she’s an exciting filly for the future.

Charlie Appleby has two entrants in the form of Pacific Avenue and Wild Desert. They clashed at Newmarket where, despite making his debut and appearing to be un-fancied in the market, Pacific Avenue got the better of his stablemate by a head.

However, that doesn’t quite tell the full story. Under a penalty, Wild Desert found himself stuck in a pocket at a crucial period, he quickened well when eventually getting a run but was not quite able to peg back Pacific Avenue, who found generously for Dougie Costello.

Wild Desert also lacked luck on his latest start when finishing third in a messy Superlative Stakes. He was challenging strongly when carried left by the wayward Venetian Lace and then received a bump from runner-up Italy for good measure.

Without that misfortune, I think he’d have gone very close indeed. That piece of Group Two form is arguably the strongest on offer and, at a best price 4/1, he makes plenty of appeal.