Thursday 23rd May 2019

Image: Jordan Yates 

Author: Jordan Yates

Graphics: Logopit Plus

Sandown Park

Probably the most famous evening meeting in the UK takes places this Thursday at Sandown Park, and that’s of course the Brigadier Gerard Night named after the great bay himself. I’ll be taking a look at the feature event on the card which is the Brigadier Gerard Stakes and having a run through the runners and riders who make up this year’s renewal.

The Brigadier Gerard Stakes is a Group 3 affair that’s ridden over a distance of just shy of a mile and two furlongs and it’s a race that often throws up a smart but competitive field. This year’s renewal seemingly fits that bill and is currently headed by AW Easter Classic winner Matterhorn heading affairs for Mark Johnston and Joe Fanning. This four year old colt by Raven’s Pass has progressed in pretty tremendous style and did said progression no harm when finishing a solid second behind Forest Ranger in the Huxley at Chester the last day. You can currently find him trading at a general 7/4 in the betting. Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore have dominated this race in the few years, with Ryan winning the last three renewals and Sir Michael taking the last two, most notably last year with the subsequent King George winner Poet’s Word. This powerhouse duo team up once again this time around and they do it in the form of Regal Reality. He’s a very versatile sort ground wise as he has form on pretty much all types of going and is a smart performer on his day. He looked very impressive when winning the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood and was last seen when finishing an encouraging third behind Beat The Bank here in the Mile last month. He’s also trading at a best priced of around 7/4 currently.

Owen Burrows sends 500,000 yearling Elwazir to take his chance here, he’s a big colt by Frankel who’s shown some decent form so far in his racing life, he gives the impression that he has a lot more in his locker though and he has every chance of living up to that lofty price tag as the season progresses. Jim Crowley takes the ride here and you can find him at around 6/1 currently. Just following him is the David Menuisier trained Danceteria who’s no stranger to the winners enclosure notching up four victories last term as well as winning on his reappearance in France last month. He’s one that generally sits off the pace and could well take advantage in a race which there’s likely to be a lot of pace up front with several prominent runners in the line up. 2017 Sussex Stakes winner Here Comes When concludes the line up with the James Fanshawe trained Bombyx who are both pretty sizeable priced outsiders.

Race Verdict:

“The betting suggests that is somewhat of a two horse race but I’m not so sure that’s the case. I think there could well be competition for the lead here with both Matterhorn and Elwazir both liking to go forward. This could well play into the hands of the likes of Danceteria who sits off the pace and he’s every chance of picking up the pieces once again here, my selection in the race however points to another Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore success. And that comes in the form of REGAL REALITY, he also likes to sit slightly off the place, albeit mostly because he’s generally quite slow away, however I think there’s a more classy edge about him. He’s certainly got bags of ability and if you go back and watch his Goodwood win you’ll see that for yourself. The run here the last day looks a pretty solid prep for this and if sorting himself in the preliminaries and in the stalls, he should put in a bold bid for connections that very much mean business in this race.”

WIN: REGAL REALITY – (9/4)