ANDREA Atzeni enjoyed a day to remember in the north west on Saturday as his partnership with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and trainer Kevin Ryan yielded a sparkling pattern-race double.
A thrilling victory for Emaraaty Ana in the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup represented success in the afternoon’s marquee event, but the win shouldn’t overshadow a highly promising display from Triple Time who impressed in the Listed Ascendant Stakes.
Emaraaty Ana (117) went to post an 11/1 shot following his fine second in the Nunthorpe Stakes as the presence of Starman (116), fancied to live up to the billing of the season’s top sprinter and therefore influencing the price of every other horse in the field.
As it materialised, it was Emaraaty Ana who showed more latent speed through the middle section of the race on the prevailing fast ground before seeing out the trip thoroughly to hold off the fast-finishing favourite.
Kevin Ryan made the point that different tactics have been the key to the change in fortune for his stable star, as exercising more patience has allowed the son of Shamardal to fully see out the six furlongs.
That view was endorsed by the sectionals as Ryan’s speedster stole a march on the favourite through furlongs three, four and five which, despite his faster finishing effort, the July Cup winner could not claw back. The comparable figures read 31.93 seconds and 32.15 seconds respectively.
The closing three-furlong sectional weighed in favour of Starman who posted 32.78 seconds as opposed to the winner’s 32.90 seconds, as the main protagonists all clocked over 11 seconds for the final furlong after four consecutive furlongs underneath that standard.
Nonsense
So, suggesting Starman hit a flat spot is nonsense, it is simply that he needs a stiffer test of stamina than Emaraaty Ana who excels on speed tracks. They are both exceptional and this is the fastest six-furlong race of the season on my time figures.
The Breeders’ Cup Sprint has been put forward as a possible target for the winner, which is a race Ryan knows all about winning having taken the prize last year with Glass Slippers. His view is that Emaraaty Ana is tailor-made for the race.
Using the mid-race sectionals as a benchmark for outstanding performances both Chil Chil (111) and Happy Romance (111) must be highlighted with a view to adding further group race successes to their profiles in the future.
After a slow start, Chil Chil was the equal of the winner (31.91 seconds) through the middle section of the race and slightly faster (32.79 seconds) for the final three furlongs.
Happy Romance was slightly faster through the middle section of the race than Chil Chil as she also recovered from a slightly tardy start. Similarly, like Chil Chil, the daughter of Dandy Man is ideally suited by fast ground.
HAYDOCK’S Saturday card opened with the Listed Ascendant Stakes going the way of the aforementioned Triple Time (107) who was impressive in lowering the colours of the expensive Godolphin yearling and odds-on favourite Hafit.
The race did not start as it finished for Andrea Atzeni and his partner as they were the slowest to leave the stalls and gather stride. Fortunately though in the small field, the pair recovered their position to hold a lead when turning for home.
The overall race time was 1.44 seconds slower than the Group 3 won by Artistic Rifles (109) although the sectionals in the home straight were comparable, which was further illustrated that the slow start was comfortable to overcome.
The son of Frankel clocked 34.51 seconds for the concluding three furlongs which was identical to Artistic Rifles, also ridden by Atzeni who was repeating front-running tactics.
Stronger
Of the two, the two-year-old looked the stronger at the line giving the impression he had plenty to give after quickening sharply.
His future entries include the Royal Lodge Stakes and the Beresford Stakes, both of which are Group 2 contests and look well within his capabilities.
Hafit (103; 34.60s for the final three furlongs) lost little in defeat behind Triple Time albeit inexperience caused him to hang left a little in the straight.
The performance of Artistic Rifles in the comparison race should not be underestimated as both Bell Rock (106; 34.33s) and My Oberon (106; 34.36s), who filled the placings, have proved effective at this level in the past.