Juvenile Watch: Tropical Storm can strike in Richmond

The Strikin Viking looked highly promising on his latest start when finishing runner up in the Railway Stakes. 

He now races in the colours of Wathnan Racing, having been purchased privately from Middleham Park Racing. 

He has also transferred into the care of Hamad Al Jehani. For me, this is a negative given he has just one winner to his name this season, coupled with the fact that a change of yards in the middle of the season and the regime changes this entails is never ideal. The Strikin Viking is clearly talented but 11/8 looks short enough to me. 

I prefer the Andrew Balding-trained Tropical Storm. He finished ahead of recent Listed winner Al Qudra when runner-up on his second start before showing further progression when only finding Shareholder too good in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

I’m firmly of the opinion that the Norfolk was the strongest juvenile race from Ascot and the son of Eqtidaar hit the line well, suggesting this 6f trip on an easier track can suit. 

Big Mojo shed his maiden tag in Wednesday’s Molecomb and I fancy Tropical Storm to follow that pattern here. 

I’m convinced this son of Without Parole is better than he showed at Royal Ascot when delivering a lacklustre run in the Coventry Stakes. 

Prior to that he looked impressive when winning at Newbury in a novice. He strode clear of his rivals on that occasion, among them Jouncy, who won a maiden at this track on Tuesday. 

I’m always prepared to forgive a horse one poor run, particularly the juveniles. His half sister Mubtasimah excelled at this trip, winning three times at 7f including in Listed class. 

This extra trip should mean Ralph Beckett’s charge can travel in his comfort zone before coming home strongly. At 14/1 he offers good value each-way. 

A race full of depth, Aesterius looked impressive when easily dismissing the field in the listed Dragon Stakes on his latest start at Sandown. This is more of a speed test but he could be called the winner at every stage and clearly isn’t lacking pace. His prominent racing style will also give him a likely trouble-free passage. 

His trainer Archie Watson has few peers when it comes to training speedy two-year olds. This colt's only defeat so far came when fifth in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot but that form looks solid with fourth placed Whistlejacket winning the July Stakes on his latest start. 

His win at Sandown strongly hinted that he was a rapidly-improving colt and I’m confident he’ll prove very hard to beat under the excellent James Doyle. 

I do though want to have an additional each-way play on my eye-catcher from Royal Ascot, Amestris. She endured a luckless passage through the Queen Mary when repeatedly failing to find a run inside the entirety of the final two furlongs. It’s probably reasonable to say that, understandably, Kevin Stott is not riding with the same confidence of this time last year, so the booking of Hector Crouch, who conversely will be brimming with confidence after winning the Irish Oaks, is a positive. 

She does come from a wide draw in stall 15 and will need better luck than at Royal Ascot. Prior to Ascot she was visually she impressive when winning by a wide margin on her second start at Lingfield and the second has won since. A filly has landed this twice in the last five years and at double-figure prices, I think she is worthy of serious consideration.

A race that lacks a standout performer with the market headed by representatives from Coolmore, in the form of The Parthenon, and Aomori City for Godolphin. I’d be surprised if either ranked in the top echelon of their respective yards' wealth of two-year old talent. 

The form of The Parthenon’s win at Galway is yet to be franked with the third-placed Mano Chicago running to a moderate level on his next two starts. I also wasn’t enamoured by the way the son of Kingman held his head while simultaneously hanging – this track will expose any chinks in his balance. 

Aomori City makes more appeal of the pair though the form of his debut win is also yet to be boosted. On his latest start in the July Stakes he lacked a change of gear at a crucial time and looked one paced for much of the final furlong before belatedly making good progress inside the last 100 yards. His dam was unraced but is from a family of middle distance performers and his half-brother Sous La Niege was a winner over a mile as a juvenile, so this extra furlong should suit him well. 

With the straight eight heading to post I’d far rather play the each-way angle if all stand their ground.

Arabian Sun ran well at this track when finishing second over six-furlongs on debut, when, having looked green in the mid-part of the race, he finished to good effect. At Salisbury on his second start he showed significant improvement when travelling powerfully throughout before quickening up to win a shade cosily. The form has worked out well with both the runner-up and the fourth winning on their next starts. 

His half-brother Gidwa showed improved form when stepped up to seven-furlongs as a juvenile (albeit at a lower level) and everything I’ve seen suggests this son of Saxon Warrior will follow suit. At a best-priced 17/2 at the time of writing, he can go very close for Clive Cox who is operating at a healthy 20% strike rate with his two-year-olds this season.