The feature race for three years old at Ascot this Saturday is the G3 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic. Only a small field will take part with the quinella from last fortnight’s Placid Ark Stakes, Petrol Power and Sujet, standing out as the obvious choices here. They rightly dominate the market and hard to see not one of them winning this race.
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1. PETROL POWER – J Brown (7)
The Jim Taylor trained gelding has been faultless in three starts this campaign. The son of Snitzel closed well in both the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200) and Fairetha Stakes (1400m), running second in each event by a head and ¾ of a length respectively. He took no chances last start in the Listed Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) when taking up a forward position for a wider gate. He held on well to record a head win over Sujet. Cannot knock his form and meets those that he beat last start at level weight here.
2. MOET ME – S O’Donnell (9)
He made it two wins from five races this campaign when, three starts ago, he narrowly claimed a RST 72 (1400m) race. With that win under his belt, trainer Daniel Morton entered his son of Oratorio in a better grade of races – the Listed Fairetha and G2 W.A Guineas at his last two starts. His finished 2 ¾ and 3 ¾ lengths off the winner respectively and despite coming back in grade here, would still need to find some improvement.
3. GUARDLOCK – P Harvey (1)
Got a charmed run from a good draw two starts back and was able to score a narrow win in Open class (1200m) before stepping up to the Listed grade of the Placid Ark Stakes (1200m).The Dehere gelding, like he has done so here, drew the inside gate and was able to secure third spot (2.1 lengths) behind Petrol Power and Sujet. Capable of filling a place again but couldn’t see him turning the tables on the pair who beat him last start.
4. RULING FORCE – G Smith (4)
Won a Restricted race (1400m) two starts ago before finding the Listed company of the Fairetha and Placid Ark Stakes at his last two starts, too strong. He ran thirteen and eighth respectively and was beaten 4 ½ lengths on each occasion. Admittedly, he didn’t fair well in those races in terms of barrier draw and will appreciate jumping for gate four here but doubt that advantage will be enough to see him make the required improvement to be winning.
5. CROWN LAWYER – B Parnham (6)
The colt by Not A Single Doubt broke his maiden status last start, his sixth career outing, with a nose win over Quantative Easing in a restricted race three weeks ago. Started the 11/4 favourite in that race and, for him to be included among the better hopes of this race, would have needed to see him win in more convincing fashion than he did.
6. DIVERSICOLOR – J Whiting (8)
Frustratingly for connections, the Husson Lightning gelding as the odds of favourite, registered yet another second placing at his most recent start in a RST 68 (1200m) at Bunbury. That was the fourth second placing from his nine starts with his solitary win coming in a Bunbury Maiden back in March of this year. Will find this no easier than any of his previous runs.
7. SHADES OF RIO – W Pike (2)
After a good performance behind Petrol Power in the Listed Placid Ark (1200m) when fifth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths, the Daniel Morton trained runner started 2/1 favourite for a restricted race at Ascot last week. Ridden from the front, he had every chance before running second (beaten 1 length). Still only the one win from nine starts and couldn’t see this race behind his second.
8. SUJET – P Carbery (3)
After an impressive trial win over almost seven lengths, the son of Vital Equine kicked off his career as 7/4 favourite in the Listed Placid Ark Stakes (1200m). He drew barrier ten and pushed eventual winner Petrol Power, who is proven himself at his level in the past, all the way running a neck second. Would imagine that the Simon Miller trained runner would only have had benefited from that outing and here, from a much more favourably draw, will prove very hard to beat.
9. COMMON APPROACH – J Noske (5)
New Approach colt who narrowly won a Bunbury Maiden on debut back in October but his two subsequent runs in town, have seen him accounted for in Open company and last start, in the Placid Ark Stakes. Finished 3 ¾ lengths behind Petrol Power and Sujet in the Placid Ark and it’s hard to make a case for him making up that margin here.
RACE OVERVIEW
As was the case in the Placid Ark Stakes, where they had lengths to spare on their opponents, this race looks to be a match-race between Petrol Power and Sujet. Sujet will be better for having had made his debut whilst Petrol Power meets him 2kgs better for beating him last start. A real chance of the trifecta repeating itself too with Guardlock filling the place
- SUJET
- PETROL POWER
- GUARDLOCK
