William Haggas has enjoyed another good year and Storm The Stars can give the Newmarket handler something to keep him warm through the winter by winning the 32Red EBF Stallions Oath Maiden Stakes at Nottingham.
As his name suggests, the youngster is one of the many offspring of the brilliant Sea The Stars who has enjoyed such a fantastic year as a stallion.
Storm The Stars has already had one run, at Newmarket earlier this month, and he did everything right bar win.
He had the misfortune of bumping into Aidan O’Brien’s Aloft, who just caught him right on the line.
It was unfortunate, not just as O’Brien only has a handful of runners in British maidens each season but also because Aloft is a very smart prospect.
Just last Saturday he reappeared at Doncaster and was beaten only by the top-class Elm Park in the Racing Post Trophy.
Knowing how O’Brien brings his juveniles along slowly, Aloft probably improved a good deal but that takes nothing away from the Haggas youngster, who is entitled to do just that himself.
Tim Easterby’s Hazelrigg has been without a win since last September but looks dangerously well treated for the first division of the 32Red On The App Store Handicap.
Successful at Ayr off a mark of 73, he had won the season before off 88.
Hazelrigg hinted at a return to form last time out when beaten a length into third at Nottingham on soft and the slighter quicker ground might be in his favour.
John Gosden’s Dubai Star can not have been showing much at home as he was sent off relatively unconsidered in the betting before winning on his debut at Pontefract.
That was a striking success, though, and the handicapper has given him a rating of 85 ahead of the 32Red Casino Handicap.
He showed he can handle cut in the ground and it will be interesting to see how he gets on.
* Selections -
KEMPTON: 4.55 Always Resolute, 5.25 Panettone, 5.55 Scarlet Sash, 6.25 Lady Atlas, 6.55 Doctor Sardonicus, 7.25 Devon Drum, 7.55 Hallouella, 8.25 Foxford.
NOTTINGHAM: 1.30 Hazelrigg, 2.00 It Must Be Faith, 2.30 Speedfit Rules, 3.00 STORM THE STARS (NAP), 3.30 Dubai Star, 4.00 Nabatean, 4.30 Monopoli.
PUNCHESTOWN: 1.05 Golantilla, 1.35 Champoleon, 2.05 Stonehall Jack, 2.35 Minella Foru, 3.05 The Tullow Tank, 3.35 Foritsa, 4.05 Whiskey No Ice.
TAUNTON: 1.40 Regal Flow, 2.10 Castle Conflict, 2.40 Laser Blazer, 3.10 Dormello Mo, 3.40 Call Me April, 4.10 Kings Apollo, 4.40 A Hairy Koala.
WORCESTER: 1.20 Dunlough Bay, 1.50 Lysino, 2.20 Dancing Solo, 2.50 River Deep, 3.20 Supapowers, 3.50 El Macca, 4.20 Ivy Gate.
DOUBLE: Storm The Stars and Nabatean.