It’s a frantic Saturday on the racing front with EIGHT meetings taking place across the UK & Ireland. But there was one, trained by the master Aidan O’Brien and ridden by one of, if not the best Flat jockey of all time, that stood out above the rest.
I wouldn’t usually be one to back a relatively short-priced favourite in a 23-runner affair, but is Aidan O’Brien’s CHERRY BLOSSOM not simply head and shoulders above her 22 rivals for the Goffs Million?
Given the winner receives a whopping €610,000, I’m quite surprised at the lack of quality in the field, with only one – being the selection – runner boasting a three-figure rating.
She was an impressive winner of a maiden here in August, form that’s been franked since, before finishing runner-up to Cheveley Park favourite Relief Rally in the G2 Lowther Stakes at York’s Ebor Festival. That form speaks for itself.
The step up to 7f looks sure to suit and she coped with soft ground on her debut so that’s not a concern either – and Frankie Dettori is a pleasing jockey booking with Ryan Moore over in Australia.
I suppose the main danger is Guildenstern, who despite going off 80/1 was a respectable second to Aidan’s G2 winner Diego Velazquez over course and distance last month and subsequently sent to Donnacha, but frankly I’ll be disappointed if the selection can’t beat this field to land the big pot.
