Telescope: “has the make and shape of a horse who will improve with time”
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos), BY LEE MOTTERSHEAD8:08AM 10 AUG 2013
Haydock, Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) | 1m2f95y, 3yo+
SIR ALEX FERGUSON once said his 1991 purchase of Peter Schmeichel for £505,000 was “the bargain of the century”. Events at Haydock could show the football legend has got involved in one of biggest bargains of the new century.
The former Manchester United boss will today be an extremely excited part of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s exclusive Wavertree Syndicate, whose 12 members in 2011 each paid the sum of £46,950 to acquire a share in the then yearling Telescope, whose first chance to prove himself a genuine and exceptionally valuable top-notch performer comes in this, his Group race debut.
Haydock SATURDAY, 10 AUGUST 2013. BETFRED ROSE OF LANCASTER STAKES (Group 3) (CLASS 1) (3yo+)
£60,000 guaranteed For 3yo+ which have not won a Group 1 Pattern race since 2yo Weights 3yo colts and geldings 8st 8lb; fillies 8st 5lb; 4yo+ colts and geldings 9st 3lb; fillies 9st Penalties after November 1st, 2012, a winner of a Group 3 race 4lb; of a Group 2 race 7lb (Races won at 2yo not to count penalties) Entries 18 pay £ 420 Penalty value 1st £34,026.00 2nd £12,900.00 3rd £6,456.00 4th £3,216.00 5th £1,614.00 6th£810.00
| NO. DRAW FORM |
HORSE | AGE | WGT OR |
JOCKEY TRAINER RTF% |
TS | RPR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914210 |  |
AREA FIFTY ONE
 28 |
5 |
9-3
105
|
115 | 120 | ||
| 23118-84 |  |
BLACK SPIRIT t
21 |
6 |
9-3
106
|
61 | 123 | ||
| 3169-236 |  |
CITY STYLE
133
|
7 |
9-3
115
|
122 | 127 | ||
| 4843-754 |  |
DAVID LIVINGSTON
36
|
4 |
9-3
106
|
97 | 123 | ||
| 552-3414 |  |
NOBLE MISSION h
49 |
4 |
9-3
111
|
114 | 127 | ||
| 62671221 |  |
QUICK WIT p
23 |
6 |
9-3
109
|
100 | 125 | ||
| 7470-610 |  |
REWARDED
50
|
4 |
9-3
107
|
100 | 121 | ||
| 8660-795 |  |
SRI PUTRA hb
14 |
7 |
9-3
110
|
75 | 120 | ||
| 9107-7815 |  |
MAKING EYES
24 |
5 |
9-0
99
|
DOUBTFUL
|
89 | 118 | No betting |
| 10721-1 |  |
TELESCOPE
23 |
3 |
8-8
114
|
120 | 127 | ||
This is a bigger test but this year’s Rose of Lancaster is far from the strongest Group 3 staged this season and Telescope, under consideration for both Ireland and Britain’s Champion Stakes, has a clear advantage over his rivals on Racing Post Ratings and BHA figures.
Stoute out for a fourth
Sir Michael Stoute will become the most successful trainer in the Rose of Lancaster’s relatively short history (the race was founded in 1986) if Telescope justifies hot favouritism. Stoute has been successful three times thanks to Greek Dance, Notable Guest and Class Is Class.
Down in trip
Telescope’s chief market rival Noble Mission will be racing over a mile and a quarter for the first time since May last year, having had his last eight outings over a mile and a half.
Johnny’s in town
Johnny Murtagh attempts to continue his excellent recent run in big races aboard the Mike de Kock-trained Royal Hunt Cup fifth David Livingston, his only Haydock mount.
What they say
Clive Cox, trainer of Black Spirit
“He was a solid Group 3 winner last year and I get the feeling he is coming back to the boil after a winter jumps campaign.”
Charlie Appleby, trainer of City Style
“He’s had a nice break since Meydan and the plan has been for him to have an autumn campaign. He’s run well fresh, but he’ll come on from whatever he does here.”
Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, owner of Noble Mission
“There has always been a little suspicion that a mile and a half is a bit too far for him and this is an opportunity to find out how he fares over ten furlongs.”
Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Quick Wit
“He’s doing well but never shows a lot. He won nicely at Doncaster and the step back up in distance should be fine.”
Roger Varian, trainer of Sri Putra
“Things haven’t fallen right for him so far this year but he still shows his sparkle at home.”
Harry Herbert, spokesman for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, owners of Telescope
“Sir Michael has been waiting for the ground as he would not want extremes at this stage. When we heard it was good with the odd shower about that was enough for us to run. We hope to keep him in training next year as he has the make and shape of a horse who will only improve with time.”
Today’s key pointers
Andrew Balding is the man to follow at the Shergar Cup – in the last ten seasons he has sent out nine winners from 33 runners at a strike-rate of 27% and backing his horses blind would have resulted in a level-stake profit of £27.50 to £1 stakes. Eight of his horses also finished in the frame. He has six runners today.
Alan Swinbank is 6 from 17 with his two-year-olds at Ayr in the last five seasons, for a £1 level-stake profit of £13 to £1 stakes. Stanarley Pic goes for him in the maiden at 6.05.
Three-year-olds are 5-3-20 in the last ten years in the 1m2f Betfred “Better Prices on Goals Galore” handicap at Haydock (2.20). That compares favourably to the record of horses aged four or older, who are 4-15-107 in the same period. Mark Johnston’s Sennockian Star is the only three-year-old in this year’s race.
A Paul Green-trained horses has won the Betfred Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry handicap at Haydock (4.30) twice since 2010, plus he also sent out the third in this 6f contest last year. He relies on Pull The Pin and Baltic Prince this season.
Pointers courtesy of Raceform Interactive
Going
Ascot good, good to firm in places
Ayr good
Haydock good to firm, good in places
Killbeggan good, good to firm in places (watered)
Lingfield Turf – firm, good to firm in places; All-Weather – standard
Newmarket good to firm (watered)
Redcargood to firm, firm in places (watered)
fonte: RacingPost
