A six-race card at delightful Salisbury on Thursday, August 17th, with racing taking place between 2.40pm and 5.10pm.
Some of the sport’s very best jockeys are scheduled to be taking part, including Tom Marquand, Oisin Murphy and Kevin Stott. An intriguing and open-looking Group 3 over a mile at 4.10 is the centrepiece of an excellent race-programme.
There’s one horse I’m really looking forward to seeing – by a Derby hero, and carrying the legendary colours made famous by epic superstars of the past …
2.40 Romanova @ 2/1
Romanova is a 2-yr-old filly by Golden Horn, trained by Ollie Sangster, and part-owned by the family. That means those legendary green, blue and white colours (plus spotted cap) we associate with so many brilliant horses from the past.
The heyday of owner Robert Sangster, and horses like The Minstrel, El Gran Senor, and Golden Fleece. Recall being there to see his Guineas’ winner Rodrigo De Triano sluice up in the Juddmonte at York.
This youngster has only run once, a soft-ground Sandown Listed contest over Thursday’s trip of 7f. A huge price on the day it was unsurprisingly a big ask, but this maiden on decent ground is surely far more suitable.
Oisin Murphy has been booked, and I’ve a feeling that low-key debut is about to be swept aside by this beautifully-bred daughter of the Frankie-ridden Epsom and Arc hero. What a thrill to see those silks alone, for fans of a certain vintage. Cracking little opener.
4.10 Regal Reality @ 5/1
A Group 3 event over a mile, with a couple of 3-yr-olds taking on the older horses. My selection is 8 years young, and won this comfortably 3 seasons ago. Sir Michael Stoute trains, and Richard Kingscote is in the plate.
Two runs so far this term- a sighter, then a nice win in Epsom’s Group 3 Diomed. This is for me highly competitive but at a price of 5/1 as I write I feel that represents terrific value.
The horse was rated 116 when taking this in 2020 and now runs off 110. He’s 8, but evidently in great heart and he goes well here. Throw in the legendary trainer’s touch with older horses and his chance is there for all to see.
