Sun can shine at Newbury today

Australian HORSE TIPPED TO HERALD ARRIVAL IN EUROPE WITH VICTORY in Lockinge stakes

By Keith Hamer

Published:

BY A NOSE: jockey Shane Kelly drives Geordieland, left, to victory in the Yorkshire Cup as they edge out Royal And Regal, ridden by Neil Callan, at York yesterday

Haradasun can herald his arrival in Europe with victory in the Group 1 Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

It is always hard to assess the merits of foreign form on British shores, particularly that of Australian racing which could hardly be more different in terms of attitude and ground.

However, Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore team obviously believe Haradasun can cut the mustard in this hemisphere or they would not have gone to the trouble of shipping the five-year-old halfway around the world.

Haradasun’s pedigree offers much encouragement, with the Fusaichi Pegasus horse a half-brother to the globe-trotting Elvstroem and he has some good runs in the book. He won back-to-back Group 1 races at Rosehill and Randwick in 2007 before not being beaten too far by the likes of Apache Cat, El Segundo and Miss Finland subsequently. Haradasun seems to handle pretty much any conditions and connections have obviously targeted this Group 1, which is usually one of the weakest of the year, as a perfect starting point.

Colony can land the totescoop6 London Gold Cup after a successful seasonal bow at Sandown. A typically lighted-raced sort from Sir Michael Stoute’s yard, the three-year-old triumphed in a competitive event at the end of last month. He looks one to keep on the right side of.

Four Miracles can make full use of his featherweight in the betinternet.com Stakes at Newmarket.

Thirsk’s Scarborough Handicap looks a good opportunity for Orpenindeed. Storyland broke her maiden at Redcar this month and can make it a quick double in the Profile Fillies’ Handicap at Doncaster.

Noticeable might not have hit the heights on the level but he can strike over obstacles in the JT Hughes Handicap Hurdle at Bangor.

SELECTIONS

BANGOR: 2.15 Mega Steps, 2.50 Piran, 3.25 Fieldsofclover, 4.0 Calgary Jock, 4.35 Noticeable, 5.10 Darnil, 5.40 Utern.

DONCASTER: 6.10 Pegasus Prince, 6.40 Go Go Green, 7.15 Mark Of Meydan, 7.45 Rainbow Fox, 8.20 Solar Spirit, 8.50 Storyland.

NEWBURY: 1.35 Dancer In Demand, 2.10 Tranquil Tiger, 2.45 HARADASUN (nap), 3.20 Colony, 3.55 Royal Rock, 4.30 Hip, 5.0 Crazy About You, 5.35 Amber Queen.

NEWMARKET: 1.50 Hawk Island, 2.25 Fondled, 3.0 Relative Strength, 3.35 Four Miracles, 4.10 King’s Bastion, 4.45 Exceptional Art, 5.20 Double Bill.

THIRSK: 2.0 Excellent Show, 2.35 Danesman, 3.10 Thanxforthat, 3.45 Yamal, 4.20 Trojan Flight, 4.55 Orpenindeed, 5.30 Harry Up.

DOUBLE: Haradasun and Colony.

CASTLEGATE’S SELECTION

HAWK ISLAND (Newmarket 1.50)