Group Two Vintage Stakes Guide 2021

Andrew Balding’s 2 year old colt took a major step forward when last seen winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Building on an opening success over 5 furlongs at Newbury, he took to the step up in trip and grade effortlessly to record an impressive victory in the Group 2 event.

At Ascot he shaped like going further wouldn’t be a concern as the grey hit the line strongly after coming off a strong pace from the rear of the field.

The only concern might be the Coventry form hasn’t worked out particularly well. You have to go all the way down to 7th place to find a subsequent winner.

Although the form hasn’t stacked brilliantly, he put the race to bed with a fine turn of foot and wasn’t stopping at the end of 6 furlongs.

Oisin Murphy retains the ride and this colt is likely to be right in the mix.

A son of the highly precocious Mehmas, Lusail has a brilliant career record of 3 wins from 4 runs already.

A debut win at York over 6 furlongs at a massive price put this colt firmly on the radar as one to follow. Despite missing the break and drifting left under pressure, he powered home to a comfortable win.

Soft ground at Pontefract on his next start might have blunted his turn of foot and he had to settle for 3rd place in a good quality Class 2 conditions race.

He’s since regained the winning thread. Moved up to 7 furlongs he carried a penalty to success at Newmarket, easily making all of the running.

He came back to Newmarket for the July festival and landed group 2 honours despite being dropped back to 6 furlongs.

Prominent tactics look to really suit him and he quickened up well off the front to hold on to a narrow lead.

Already a Group 2 winner, moving back up in trip will definitely suit and there looks to be plenty more to come from this progressive 2 year old.

The top rated in the field and he needs to be taken seriously.

Mark Johnston saddles Austrian Theory off the back of a slightly disappointing run in Group 2 company at the Newmarket July festival.

A debut win over 7 furlongs at Doncaster in mid June looked smart enough with the form being boosted subsequently, but he looked to be out of his depth in the Superlative Stakes two weeks ago.

Despite his debut hinting at some promise he certainly failed to build upon that and comes here with a lowly looking mark of 89.

Likely to be left for dead by the principles again.

Roger Fell’s Eldrickjones has acquired a lofty looking rating of 104 for his three outings this season, despite retaining his maiden status.

Only running over 6 furlongs so far, he was beaten a nose on debut before a very creditable 2nd in the Coventry Stakes to Berkshire Shadow.

Outrunning odds of 66/1 at Ascot saw him go off joint favourite for the July Stakes at Newmarket two weeks ago.

Unable to justify the market support the colt had to settle for a disappointing 5th but didn’t have the clearest of passages.

He has 3 lengths to find with Lusail and certainly shaped like going further would suit. He looked to lack finishing pace at Newmarket so could come on bundles for the extra distance.

He looks to have a big job on his hands to break his maiden here but is likely to be involved in the placings again.

Richard Hannon’s Mehmas 2 year old Secret Strength will be lining up for the sixth time here. Beaten on his first outing by the impressive Dig Two, he was then brushed aside by Lusail at York back in May.

Finally breaking his maiden at the third time of asking over 5 furlongs at Musselburgh, he’s since been unable to pick up the winning thread again.

Last home of 17 runners in the Coventry Stakes would suggest that in group company he is well out of his depth. He was again beaten in novice company when last seen, he was giving away 6lbs to the winner and just failed to hold on.

It’s hard to assess just what his best trip is. A winner over the minimum trip, he’ll now be trying 7 furlongs for the first time so he has stamina queries to answer too. Unlikely to play a major role.

Aidan O’Brien is sending over The Acropolis from Ireland.

Sent off a short priced favourite for his debut, he was beaten back into 4th on deep ground at the Curragh. He repaid favourite backers on his next start however and broke his maiden in fine style at Listowel over 6.5 furlongs.

Well fancied for the Coventry Stakes at Ascot, he looked to lack the pace for 6 furlongs and struggled to hold a position as the field got racing.

Coming home in 9th he wasn’t disgraced but looked to be lacking pace to be competitive at a higher level at a sprinting trip.

He was again beaten at the Curragh in the Railway Stakes. Pace looking the issue again as he trialed home in 8th of 14 runners.

Moving up in trip will certainly suit but his two runs in group company haven’t shown enough to think that he can get truly competitive.

The Ralph Beckett trained two year old has been a very smart juvenile this season racing four times and winning twice over both five and six furlongs.

He made his seasonal debut in April at Leicester when a good third of seven behind the smart Gubbass for Richard Hannon who has since franked the form in better company.

Angel Bleu also franked that form line when winning next time out on quick ground at Salisbury and he made it back to back wins when stepping up to 6f at Pontefract.

He was kept at 6f for his final outing in the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Ascot and overall he was outclassed and ran no sort of race.

Going up a furlong last time out and dropping back to Listed company on Saturday at Ascot saw him finish a very good second behind the smart New Science for Godolphin.

He is being turned around quickly and going back up in grade, so he looks vulnerable