Arc can sail past older rivals
THIS year’s Classic generation are starting to turn the screw.
Adayar’s King George romp was followed up by three-year-olds filling the first three places in the Sussex Stakes, and that trend may continue in the Nassau Stakes (3:35pm).
The best horses, on ratings at least, in the race are five-year-olds in the shape of Audarya and Lady Bowthorpe.
James Fanshawe’s Breeders’ Cup heroine and the ever-popular William Jarvis runner are rated 117 and both are entitled to run big races at this level.
Certainly the bookies like the chances of Fanshawe’s filly, who is a general 13/8 shot, while Lady Bowthorpe will have her supporters at around the 3/1 mark.
Preference of the two would be for Audarya, whose already a dual Group One winner and lightly-raced so far this campaign.
But lurking beneath them in receipt of 8lbs is the 111-rated JOAN OF ARC.
Aidan O’Brien’s French Oaks winner showed a determined attitude to get the job done at Chantilly and looks like another of Galileo’s offspring that would run through a brick wall for you.
There’s no reason why she won’t come on from that run, particularly given she still raced a little keenly with the leader, and she can take full advantage of her fillies’ allowance.
Stablemate Empress Josephine beat her by a short head in the Irish 1000 Guineas earlier in the season but was then thoroughly disappointing at Ascot last time out and isn’t worth risking again.
There is no doubt that Audayra is a solid yardstick, but the weight-for-age concession might be two much for her to shoulder.
As for Technique and Zeyaadah, the other three-year-olds in the contest, they’re yet to show quite the same level of form as the O’Brien fillies and would need to take a huge step forward from their run in the Group Three Hoppings Stakes to get involved.
POINTERS
Joan Of Arc 3:35pm Goodwood