Swede little mystery
They say many a true word is spoken in jest, and my last words on the Atalanta Stakes came back to haunt me. Lavender’s Blue won the race and I cannot now get an image of her owner, Benny Andersson, and his Abba bandmates, singing The Winner Takes It All.
But she did it very nicely considering Jim Crowley had to wait for a gap. He rode her with a fair bit of confidence. This was only her fourth run so more improvement is possible. She was second in a ten furlong listed race in front of subsequent Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher.
She was last in the Oaks at Epsom but that could mean she does not stay a mile and a half. She has the Sun Chariot on her dance card (insert Dancing Queen gag here) and would not be without a chance.
Mr Andersson is no one hit wonder as Lavender’s Blue is by Sea The Stars out of his own Group Three winning mare Beatrice Aurore. Not a bad hobby to have.
I thought Kameko could make the frame in the Solario but he got very close to winning the race. He is definitely one for the future. He showed some inexperience but came home strongly. A step up in trip is definitely wanted and I will be following his progress very carefully.
Potential superstar
The winner, Positive, gave another boost to the form of Pinatubo, who was five lengths too good for him at Goodwood.
Pinatubo is set to run in the National Stakes at the Curragh next weekend. And he has some very good rivals with the likes of Siskin and Armory in the line up. If he wins this one easily then we are talking about a potential superstar.
