Sandown Review

Sandown Park hosted a terrific seven race card on Friday with Opera Ballo winning one of the strongest ever renewals of the Group 2 Bet365 Mile. Featured in the Top 40 last year, the four year old hasn't been the easiest horse to handle throughout his career with a tendency to race keenly. However, Charlie Appleby and his team have done a fine job with the son of Ghaiyyath and he is now beginning to fulfil his potential. An emphatic winner of the Group 1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan during the winter, the Godolphin colt was ridden from the front at the Esher track and he stayed on strongly to beat Field of Gold and Zeus Olympios by three lengths. His trainer suggested afterwards that Opera Ballo could head to Longchamp next for the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan (21st May). Given the fact he was carrying a five pounds penalty, it was an excellent performance. John Gosden had warmed beforehand that the runner-up would improve for the outing, while the third remains unexposed and shouldn't be written off. 

Roger Varian was bullish about the prospects of Saddadd when I visited Carlburg Stables in February and that faith looked fully justified when the four year old reeled in King of Cities in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes. Twice successful last year, the Pinatubo colt was given a confident ride by Ray Dawson and quickened up smartly to pull away in the closing stages. A length and three quarters winner, he could return for the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes over C&D next month (28th May). Alternatively, he could step up to a mile and a half and contest the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom (6th June). He has a bright future and can scale even greater heights. While it was disappointing to see Top 40 entry Almeric only finish third, it is possible Andrew Balding's charge found the ground too lively - his best form is on a slower surface.

Raaheeb is bred to be top-class being a full-brother to Group 1 winners Baaeed and Hukum and he maintained his unbeaten record with a comfortable victory in the Group 3 Classic Trial. An impressive scorer at Ascot last Autumn, Owen Burrows' charge looked a stout stayer as he pulled away inside the final furlong to beat Al Zanati decisively. Twelve furlongs won't be an issue on this evidence and he is likely to be steered towards the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York (14th May). He is a most exciting prospect. I thought there was plenty to like about the performance of Wise Prince in third. A big drifter beforehand, the John & Thady Gosden trained runner was keen during the early stages before travelling well into the contest. While his effort petered out late on, Robert Havlin warned earlier in the week that the Nottingham novice winner would come on a lot for the run. I wouldn't be in a rush to write him off and don't forget Adayer got beaten in this before winning at Epsom four years ago.

Finally, Ed Walker made a welcome return to the Talking Trainers section in Ahead On The Flat and the Lambourn handler has made a positive start to the campaign. Here is what he said about Black Star Boy on page on page 113: "An exciting horse, he is well bred being a half-brother to a couple of Group winners and I think he will develop into a very good sprinter." The Starman gelding won the opening five furlongs three year old handicap at 9/1. On page 114, Ed remarked about the unbeaten Felicitas: "A good looking filly, she is an exciting prospect with a bright future. We have always thought a lot of her and it wasn't a surprise when she won on her debut at Lingfield." The Teofilo filly won the ten furlongs fillies' novices stakes at the Esher track by three lengths at 9/1. You can't say fairer than that. Felicitas is now likely to contest the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York (13th May) and potentially clash with Newbury winner I'm The One. 

Therefore, while it was disappointing that the Top 40 didn't make a contribution, the other sections in AOTF had a most productive afternoon with Black Star Boy (9/1), Saddadd (2/1), Opera Ballo (4/1), Raaheeb (5/1) and Felicitas (11/1) all winning.

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