Maidens In Waiting winner Tattycoram (11/4)

Al Aasy gained his ninth Pattern race victory when coming from the rear to win the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown on Friday. The William Haggas trained eight year old was in fine form last season winning Group 3 events at Goodwood and Newbury and was making his seasonal return here. Effective over ten and twelve furlongs, Jim Crowley's mount needs to be delivered late and given an excellent ride on this occasion. A half length winner from Ancient Wisdom, there were a couple of eyecatching performances in behind. See The Fire may have only finished fifth but Andrew Balding's filly travelled strongly into the race until getting tired late on. Reported to have been short of peak fitness beforehand, Oisin Murphy's mount will be a different proposition next time and the daughter of Sea The Stars is set for another productive campaign. The highly regarded Almaqam was beaten a length and a quarter in third and he is another who will improve for the outing. Suited by some ease underfoot, it will be interesting to see if he returns for the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes over the same C&D (29th May).

Dancing Gemini was highly tried last term contesting the French 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Coral Eclipse before finishing fourth in the QEII Stakes at Ascot in October. Similar to Charyn twelve months ago, Roger Teal's stable star won the Doncaster Mile on his return to action last month and followed up with a length and three quarters victory in the Group 3 Bet365 Mile. Partnered by Rossa Ryan, he stayed on strongly to beat Group 1 winning filly Tamfana with something in hand. His trainer suggested afterwards that the four year old will return to Group 1 company in either contest the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury (17th May) or Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp (25th May). There was a lot to like about the runner-ups performance, too, with David Menuiser suggesting the Soldier Hollow filly will come on markedly for the outing. She, too, could head to Newbury for the Lockinge Stakes next month.

The Maidens In Waiting section in Ahead On The Flat were amongst the winners at the Esher track, too, with Tattycoram (11/4) reversing placings with Winter's Song in the ten furlongs fillies' novice stakes. In an event won by Emily Upjohn a couple of years ago, Ralph Beckett's charge was given a canny ride from the front by Rossa Ryan. Dictating from the outset, the Camelot filly upped the tempo inside the final quarter of a mile before staying on well to beat her old rival by two lengths. She ought to be even better over an extra couple of furlongs. 

Then, to round off another good day for followers of AOTF, Tattycoram's stablemate Sing Us A Song (4/1) made virtually all in the concluding ten furlongs handicap for three year old. Making his handicap bow off top weight and a rating of 85, the Camelot colt dug deep in the closing stages before pulling away to register a comfortable success. Don't be surprised if the Valmont owned runner heads straight to Royal Ascot for the King George V Handicap Stakes (19th June). The further he went, the better he looked here. Ralph Beckett commented on page 67 of AOTF: "I think he will develop into a really nice staying horse this year." The runner-up Urban Glimpse (22/1) got a favourable mention from Andrew Balding on page 58 and he shaped with plenty of promise moving well into contention until being ultimately outstayed. From a family his stable know well, the son of Cityscape may benefit from dropping back in trip. He is handicapped to win races off his mark of 83.

Ed Bethell commented on page 72 re Dothan: "Rated 75, I think he is on a good mark and is one for three year old sprint handicaps." The son of Territories left it late but got there were it mattered to lead close home in the five furlongs handicap which rounded off the action at Doncaster. Ridden by Callum Rodriguez, the 3/1 favourite came from last to first showing good acceleration to deny Acrisius by a short head. He threatens to be even better over six furlongs and, following his narrow margin win, the assessor can't be too harsh. Expect the lightly raced gelding to stay ahead of the handicapper for the time being.

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