Elna versus Talk - take two
Thursday 9th August, 2007
Elna Bright landed the Unicorn Asset Management July Series nursery two weeks ago for the Hannon team
ELNA Bright and Talk Of Saafend will renew rivalry this Friday night (August 10) when they line up for the latest Unicorn Asset Management July Course Series nursery (qualifier) (6.45).
The two horses are both trained by Richard Hannon and fought out a superb finish over course and distance just a fortnight ago.
On that occasion, Elna Bright got home by a diminishing neck and as a consequence re-opposes off marginally worse terms this time around. So it looks like the duo are set for another hard-fought scrap with the waters further muddied for punters by the fact that Hannon runs a third in the race in the shape of Ghetto, also a course and distance winner.
The six-race card opens with the cracking seven-furlong Wilson Browne maiden - a contest that has some recent history to it. Eight years ago it was won by King’s Best, who went on to secure a place in the record books by landing the 2000 Guineas. Windsor Knot, the 2004 winner, also subsequently achieved Group-race success.
So the race has a habit of throwing up smart horses and a glance at the 20 declared runners shows that many top trainers - Sir Michael Stoute, John Dunlop, Mick Channon, Jeremy Noseda and Peter Chapple-Hyam - will be represented in the latest renewal. Who knows, we may see another potential star taking his first competitive steps tomorrow.
The Firestone Buildong Projects (7.45) conditions race is another race to eagerly anticipate with some useful older horses such as Snoqualmie Boy and Candy Critic tackling some potentially progressive three-year-olds such as Many Volumes.
Obe Gold is back off a fair handicap and should go close in the Mineral Star handicap (8.15) if he can replicate the form of his fourth-placed effort at Goodwood last Friday.
On the penultimate ‘Newmarket Night’ Ronan Keating takes to the stage after at the conclusion of racing.