Kenilworth hosted two Grade 3 races on Saturday. Platinum Class (s/s 96 +, has run over 100 a couple of times) sauntered to a predictably easy win in the Final Fling Stakes. The Silvano filly has won seven of 19 starts with most of her successes coming between 1400 and 1600m but she had no problem finishing it off powerfully over an extra furlong.
The Champagne Stakes fell to the intelligently ridden Nastergal (by Duke of Marmalade). Greg Cheyne cantered along upfront at a sedate pace then quickened away at the right moment. As punters studying form, we often get hung up with interpretations of the past performances but, at the risk of stating the obvious, the result hinges on what actually happens in the race itself. That is a function of pace, prevailing circumstance (the track was boggy/ racing handy down the straight was an advantage) and the physical condition of each horse on race day.
Committed horseplayers try their best to predict these things and anticipate how it will all unfold. However, Barry Meadow points out in his excellent book, “The Sceptical Handicapper” – “Much is unknowable and we’re not as smart as we think.” That is what makes it such a tough game to beat, together with the legally mandated high takeout squeezing potential profit margins.
On Friday, Maverick Girl (s/s 100) won a closely contested fillies feature on the Fairview Polytrack. She beat off Madame Speaker, Studio Blues and Perfectproprotions with all three getting 99’s, which are pretty neat scores. Forehand was also nearby (s/s 98) at the finish, with Just Chaos, Raven Girl, Delias Delight and Klever Kathy attaining 96’s in what could turn out as a key race for followers of PE racing.