MARTYN Meade’s Advertise was a very warm 11/10 favourite for the Group 2 Arqana July Stakes and made no mistake, making his move towards the outside of the bunch on the far rails and pulling clear for Frankie Dettori to account for Konchek by two lengths.
Advertise had raced on the far side when finishing a length second to the impressive Calyx in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and might have finished even closer under the stands’ rails. That theory may be put to the test in one of the major autumn two-year-old races, the Middle Park or the Dewhurst on the Rowley Mile course.
“Frankie gave him time to find his stride because he’s a big horse,” Meade said. “I think he put them to bed pretty comfortably to be honest and the Dewhurst is a strong possibility now. I don’t want to over race him this year because we want to think about his three-year-old career.”
STAMINA
The form-line looks very strong but it remains to be seen how far Advertise will stay. His sire, the lightly raced Showcasing, never had the chance to go beyond six furlongs and is by champion sprinter Oasis Dream. However, the dam Furbelow, also lightly raced, is by Pivotal, responsible for plenty of horses with stamina beyond sprint distances.
Konchek ran a very solid race, as did third home Charming Kid, who may be dropped back to five furlongs according to Richard Fahey.
ALLAN JUDGES IT
The opening Group 3 Bahrain Trophy over a mile and five furlongs saw David Allan serve up a fine front-running performance on Tim Easterby’s Wells Farhh Go. The northern challenger made all the running, was given a breather half a mile out and then kicked on strongly again to beat Loxley by two lengths with Aidan O’Brien’s Giuseppe Garibaldi all of five lengths away in third.
Wells Farhh Go had finished sixth in the Dante and the King Edward VII Stakes. He needed this longer trip and bowled along happily, earning a 10/1 quote from Paddy Power for the St Leger.
The trainer said: “He’ll go for the Great Voltigeur at York and we were considering Goodwood, as well, but maybe we’ll have to rethink that. September has always been what this year is all about.”