Blue Duster sure to take some shaking

INSIDE TRACK

SHAHID, following the loss of his unbeaten record at Royal Ascot last Wednesday, could restore his reputation at Newcastle in the Beeswing Stakes on July 24.

Things did not go right for John Dunlop's colt in the Jersey Stakes. To be seen at his best he needs to be covered up, but he saw too much daylight.

Another Dunlop inmate due to contest a major event is Kahir Almaydon. He has the Castle Donnington Stakes at Newbury for his next target.

While Dunlop had a Royal Ascot to remember, one of the stable stars who was missing was Nwaamis.

He is currently on the easy list at the Castle Stables, having suffered a recurrence of a muscle problem. This could turn out to be a blessing in disguise as he will be a fresh horse in the latter part of the season when he should get his favourite soft ground.

Newcastle's big event this Saturday is the Northumberland Plate. Reg Akehurst's Latahaab has been working towards this race since his success at York.

After a promising early start, Henry Cecil has given his juveniles plenty of time to mature this season.

One that is reported to be coming into himself is Storm Troo- per, owned by Fahd Salman. A son of Diesis, he looks to have a bright future judged by the quality of his recent homework.

BRIGHTON, June 19: The Montepelier Selling Stakes for two-year-olds provided the medium for a large on-course professional gamble on Neville Callaghan's Arlington Lady.

The daughter of Prince Sabo, who won with any amount in hand, had been disappointing on her debut at Newmarket behind Maid For The Hills in a Class D maiden.

Dropped into this company, she was a totally different proposition and never looked likely to be beaten.

It would be interesting to see how the handicapper interprets this performance as she looks the ideal type for a nursery campaign.

The ten-furlong Lewes Maiden Stakes saw the Guy Harwood-trained State Law put his racecourse experience to good use and come home a well backed 1-3 favourite in the field of four.

The one runner of note in the race for me was Luca Cumani's three-year- old Lavender. A daughter of Kris, she had hinted at ability over this trip on her two previous outings. A drifter from 6-4 to 11-4 in the market, she was having her third run for a handicap mark.

Under Richard Quinn, she had every chance two furlongs out, but faded to finish fourth. This below-par performance could well be overturned by a step up in trip.

WINDSOR, June 19: Christian Wall's Admirals Flame restored his reputation when landing a hefty touch in the extended mile handicap. A change of rider brought about a dramatic change in tactics.

He had tried to make all under George Duffield last time out, but now Pat Eddery held him up until the final quarter-mile.

He then took him to the front and let him stride out to win by two and a half lengths. He had something in hand and should repeat this feat in similar circumstances.

PONTEFRACT, June 19: When Ian Balding's Slip Anchor colt Silently failed to get a mile and a half at Sandown last time out, it was decided to drop him back to ten furlongs. Already a winner over this distance in early April at Ripon, he looked set to score approaching the final 100 yards when he was run out of it by Jameel Asmar, going down by a length.

He did not not appear to be giving Kevin Darley a great deal of help. Only Frankie Dettori has managed to galvanize the horse to win and it may take a renewal of that partnership to see him win again.

There was an interesting performance from Huish Cross in the mile seller. Opening at 7-2, the daughter of Absalom drifted out to 11-2.

Ridden by Darryll Holland, she was never seen with a chance but was certainly going the right way at the end. David Morley's three-year-old had hinted at ability in much better class last season and should be noted for when the market speaks in her favour.

ASCOT, June 20: Bahri silenced his detractors when recording an awesome performance in the St James's Palace Stakes.

I had brought him to your attention in the column last February, noting how well he had done over the winter.

With a pacemaker in the field to help his cause, he was always travelling strongly and when he quickened up in the final two furlongs the issue was settled in an instant. His next target looks like being the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Runner-up Charnwood Forest was the subject of totally opposing reports regarding his well-being. The original industry price for the horse was 8-1, which Corals topped up with an additional four points to 12-1.

They found themselves taking a flood of money for the son of Warning at each-way prices. Confidence grew in the Cecil camp when one of his work companions Eltish was only just touched off in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Virtually last turning for home, he stayed on inside the final quarter of a mile to finish a highly creditable second ahead of third-placed Vettori, winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.

The lightly raced Charnwood Forest has had his problems in the past, but now seems sure to make the grade in Group company.

Medaille Militaire had been laid out for the Britannia Handicap by John Dunlop after his emphatic win at Newcastle in April.

Under Richard Quinn, he appeared to be going nowhere fast three out. Quinn persisted and produced him late inside the final furlong to head his stable companion Beauchamp Jazz in virtually the last stride.

Judged on this performance, the son of Highest Honor will clearly appreciate a further two furlongs.

ASCOT, June: 21: The Queen Mary Stakes saw Blue Duster and Dance Sequence confirm their Sandown running to a pound. For whatever reason, the EBF fillies' race, which opens the Whitsun Bank Holiday Monday card, normally turns out to be a very good race.

Under Mick Kinane, David Loder's Blue Duster benefited from different riding tactics to take the lead a furlong out and go on to score by a length and a half from Dance Sequence. Michael Stoute's filly won't always have the misfortune to be pitted against such a high class opponent.

The most encouraging performance of the race was that of My Melody Parkes. This column had highlighted her in the early days of the turf season when the Berry stable realised they had a Queen Mary filly in the making.

Backers had been put off by her last run in may which was too bad to be true. Now she gave way only below the distance but still had enough in reserve to finish third. There will be plenty of opportunities for her in the future.

The big disappointment of the race was Marl, who had been very impressive when winning at Newbury in mid-May. After being very heavily backed, she went out like a light approaching the final furlong.

Cautious Epsom professionals held the view that she had started to grow since her last public appearance and was still on the weak side.

The Royal Hunt Cup proved a disappointing race for Governor George, who had been specially prepared for the race since winning at Newmarket in April.

The quality of his homework was given a real boost when work companion Beauchamp Jazz was just touched off in the Britannia.

Prior to the race, he sustained a minor foot injury, which obviously took its toll.

ASCOT, June 22: Lucky Lionel fulfilled the promise I insisted he possessed following his Epsom performance. Back on a stiffer track, he duly won the Norfolk Stakes.

Always highly regarded by the yard, he attracted significant each-way money at 14-1, finally going off at 11-1. At the line he had nearly three lengths to spare over stable companion Cayman Kai.

Third horse home, Mubhij, the 9-4 joint favourite, was reported to have been made to look very pedestrian in his last serious piece of homework by Coventry Stakes winner, Royal Applause. This information vied with equally negative messages about the other joint favourite, Night Parade.

Those in the know left Night Parade well alone. He had not worked particularly well behind Russian Revival and Polaris Flight recently and John Reid was sending out distress signals three furlongs out. This is a performance that is best ignored.

Many professionals' idea of a Gold Cup day banker was David Loder's Bahamian Knight, who had weight conditions in his favour in the Chesham Stakes.

Yet he was another who was the subject of negative whispers, reportedly having performed well below par at home.

Opening at 4-5 and attracting strong support, he still drifted out to 6-4 at the off. Once again, the bookmakers' grapevine had it right as he was clearly beaten inside the final quarter-mile.

Three-year-old handicaps arenot the easiest races to assess and in big fields at Ascot over a mile and a half they can prove to be a nightmare.

Like many professionals, I hold that the draw continues to play an important part regardless of distance.

This was certainly the case for Monarch in the King George V Handicap. Running off a mark of 81, he never had the run of the race from stall two.

Meeting traffic problems from two furlongs out, he was beaten a little over half a length in a desperate finish.

The Cole camp are delighted with the improvement made by this son of Sadler's Wells in recent weeks. He will gain compensation in a good class three-year-old event in the near future.

ASCOT, June 23: This column has mentioned Paul Cole's debutant Kuantan on more than one occasion. Trained at Whatcombe, the son of Gone West had endured a spell on the sidelines suffering from sore shins.

Making his debut in the Windsor Castle Stakes, he proved easy to back on course.

All the signs of an anticipated victory were there if you knew where to look. The Big Three bookmakers were going to bet on the race in the morning, but then William Hill decided against it. Hills are known to get the occasional Paul Cole message and it must be assumed they had a serious clue as to his chances.

Always in the firing line, he stayed on much too strongly in the final furlong for the David Loder-trained runner-up Applaud.

NEWMARKET, June 23: There was a positive message doing the rounds for the Roger Charlton-trained Rainfest. Contesting the mile and a half handicap, the daughter of Rainbow Quest had apparently shown genuine improvement at home following her seasonal reappearance behind Capias at Newbury in late May.

Driven along early to keep tabs on the pacemaker Vaugrenier, she was in front four out. Very quickly taken on, she was seen going backwards and was totally legless by the distance.

I passed on cautionary notes last week that the stable has a definite problem at the moment. A watching brief on all their runners is advised.

There was a lot of morning interest in John Gosden's newcomer Arctiid in the six-furlong maiden. News of this interest reached the track and opening exchanges saw him backed down to odds-on.

He drifted out to 11-10 after informed word from the yard let it be known that he would be better suited by a step up to seven furlongs plus. Apparently recent homework had seen him four to five lengths adrift of Pommard.

Close up, he had every chance two out, but could do no more than finish fourth. He ran as though he does need farther. Judgment on his abilities should be suspended until the stable hits form.

ASCOT, June 24: There were messages circulating in the morning about David Loder's three-year-old colt Grand Du Lac for the Fenwolf Maiden Stakes over a mile.

Ridden by Pat Eddery, the son of Lac Ouimet had apparently been working exceptionally well at home. Backed early at 15-8, he was available at even money on course before going off the 4-5 favourite.

Although never far off the pace and despite making a determined effort turning for home, he could only stay on at one pace to dead-heat for second place with Mackook for second place. He will improve for this run as he obviously posesses ability.

Winner Arabride had been highlighted in this column last week and saw her form given a big boost by the performance of Western Reel in the opener.

The EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes brought another Loder two-year-old into the fray. Wild rumours were circulating on course that Prancing was better than Blue Duster and that she had already been backed at 50-1 for next year's One Thousand Guineas.

In a case of deja-vu, the filly occupied the same spot as the stable's runner last year - second.

She had opened at odds on before drifting out to 6-4 in the face of support for the John Dunlop debutant Bint Salsabil.

The two had the market and the race to themselves, with Bint Salsabil proving the stronger at the line.

In last week's copy, I had passed on news that the daughter of Salsabil was expected to make a winning debut.

She will be suited by farther and is certainly going to give the Dunlop stable an excellent line to three fillies yet to run, all of whom I have already mentioned in previous weeks.