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Dick Turpin can gallop off with the loot in Richmond

Chris McGrath
Friday 31 July 2009 00:00 BST
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Oasis Dream has quickly proved himself a most promising young stallion, producing the winners of two juvenile Group races at the Newmarket July Festival, as well as a filly foiled only in a photo for the Oaks. Now the man who supervised his racing career, John Gosden, is hoping to sustain his excellent start at stud.

Gosden saddles a young colt named Showcasing in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood today, who was well christened with his sire's reputation in mind. He made his debut in the Newbury maiden won by one of those Newmarket winners, Arcano. That form has proved extremely strong, and Showcasing outclassed his rivals at Yarmouth last time.

Rakaan and Moran Gra represent the Coventry Stakes form of Canford Cliffs, already advertised here this week, while the trainer of that colt, Richard Hannon, saddles Dick Turpin, who has won his two starts by an aggregate of 10 and a half lengths. He is all speed and, on this very sharp track, it may boil down to whether he can keep up the tempo long enough to stem the wind-up finish of a less precocious rival in Showcasing. That Dick Turpin (2.45) is already proven on easy ground is as good a reason as any for picking between them.

The most valuable prize is the Totesport Mile, where the fancied Acrostic must overcome a wide draw. Cloudy Start (3.25) is berthed one along from the rail and, while he has quickly gone up the ratings, he remains in the early stages of his career. He may also prefer these conditions after hanging on fast ground at Newmarket last time.

Drumfire turns out again after winning here on Tuesday, a ruse that has paid off for his trainer in the past, but Crime Scene (2.10) may retain an edge in class, while Northern Dare (2.45) remains well treated under a 3lb penalty for an easy win at Pontefract.

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