Fintry Sparkles At Atalanta Stakes – Weekend Racing Review

Sandown took centre stage on Saturday courtesy of two decent Group 3 events, which have historically provided a pointer for the future.

In the Solario Stakes, trainer Hugo Palmer won his first Group race via Aktabantay, who produced a workmanlike victory to get on top, but doesn’t seem to be in the same mould as last year’s victor, and subsequent multiple Group winner, Kingman.

The following Group 3 did catch the eye, however, where Andre Fabre’s talented filly, Fintry, took her record to 4-5 by winning the Atalanta Stakes.

This outing was seen as a prep run for the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket at the end of September, and having also won a Group 2 prior to this victory, along with the fact this was her first outing since June 1 suggests she has the ability to score at the highest level. It’s also worth remembering that the French won four of the lat five Sun Chariots.

At the Curragh on Sunday, Cappella Sansevero won a Group 3 for juveniles and now heads to the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. He is another, though, who hasn’t really set the pulse racing yet having lost three previous outings, and will need to step up considerably at HQ.

Also at the Curragh was the Irish Cambridgeshire, which went the way of Sretaw, who finally bagged a big prize. However, in terms of future profits, it could be worth following the narrow runner-up, Vastonea.

That’s what the recent history books suggest anyway, as a glance back shows the last five runners-up of this race went on to produce form-figures of 10121 next time.

Amongst them were Regulation (4/1), Moran Gra (6/1) and Raise Your Heart (9/4), and Vastonea could well be joining them as he was short of room before keeping on strongly. Kevin Prendergast’s 6yo likes cut in the ground and could find compensation this autumn.

Punters with good memories may recall Wesley Ward’s, Sunset Glow, as a narrow runner-up at Royal Ascot earlier in the summer, but made amends for that defeat in grand fashion by scooping a Grade 1 at Del Mar on Sunday. Remember her name when it comes to Breeders’ Cup night in a few months’ time.

As for those who caught the eye without winning at the weekend, then Sir Michael Stoute’s, Russian Realm, could offer value in the coming months if stepped up in trip. As a son of a 1m2f winner, he has found it hard to win this year at around a mile, but shapes like further is needed.

In Sandown’s opening sprint handicap, Eccleston very much went into the notebook on his first outing for 77 days. David O’Meara’s 3yo looks to have been held back for an autumn campaign owing to a preference for soft ground, and the way he flew into fourth here having been blocked suggests he can pick up a decent 5f contest.