As September approaches there are a host of betting opportunities on horses in the yard that are rapidly improving and likely to harvest big prizes in the Autumn in the UK and overseas. Here are five:
- Klassleader 3yo Colt
Due to the need for some cut Klassleader is still a maiden having only ran twice in maidens where the form has worked out really well.
The 3yo colt is by Lope De Vega out of a Haggas trained group winning mare rated 106 who preferred soft ground. He is a big strong horse that could esily develop into a stakes horse.
With the anticipated rain due to arrive in South East Wales on Wednesday he may well take him his entry in the 12f maiden at Ffos Las on Thursday. I have a strong suspicion that his target would have been the 12f Heritage Handicap at Ascot in 2 weeks time. Somerville Lodge often targets this race, they have won 4 out of the last 10 runnings and 3 of the last 4 including last year with The Reverend off a mark of 86.
Depending on how far he wins his maiden I expect Klassleader to be rated just below 90. Gran Descons who beat him at Doncaster ran well off a mark of 88 when only beaten 3l by a handicap blot so he won’t get much more.
The Ascot race may come too soon but if he gets some give there are plenty of 12f handicaps for 3yo+ and he is very much a horse to follow.
2. Treasure Time 4yo gelding
It’s been a very frustrating season for the connections of the top grade handicapper Treasure Time. Balloted out twice at Royal Ascot, drawn in the car park twice at Goodwood and then being poorly positioned in a slowly ran Shergar Cup 8f race round the Ascot bend, will have caused many to lose faith in the 4yo.
Those of us with patience may well get the last laugh. His mark of 94 at the start of the season, was considered good enough to head straight for the Hunt Cup to preserve that rating. Many in the yard felt Tom Marquand should ride him in preference to the eventual runner up Bullet Point.
I firmly believe having been readied to win a Class 2 competitive handicap on seasonal debut not then being able to run has caused the lethargic performances at Goodwood and to a lesser degree Ascot having made a satisfactory belated seasonal debut at Sandown.
The Goodwood run was a complete write off when after being kept wide he had little more than an exercise canter. Then at Ascot over the round mile, where he was slowly away in a steadily ran race and couldn’t claw back the lengths lost in the first 2F
It’s worth remembering that the owners group are managed by one of the most successful gamblers of the modern era and it is hard not to think that after very unfortunate circumstances foiled the Royal Ascot run – there is not a Plan B
Treasure Time is now down to 92 and given the right race conditions is more than up to winning a Class 2 contest probably over 9f or 10f. If they want to go for gold possibly the Cambridgeshire could be the target but he will probably now need to get a penalty to avoid another potential balloting out fiasco.
He was entered in a 1m handicap back at Goodwood’s three day bank holiday meeting but wasn’t declared which wasn’t surprising as that track doesn’t suit him.
Given the right track on his next outing, possibly down in grade to a 0-90 (he can run in those of 92) or a 0-95, he would still be of significant interest for betting purposes.
3. Binhareer 4 yo gelding
Binhareer announced himself as a sprinter to follow when landing a nice touch for us at Ayr when sent there for the soft ground. He won that race off a low mark of 79 and was put up to 87 when looking to follow up in the ‘Greys Only’ race on the July course.
Despite the ground being too fast he ran a great race only collared late home by the very well handicapped Addison Grey who had the assistance of a top 7lb claimer. He only got a 3lb rise and will win more races off a mark of 90 with his preferred cut in the ground.
He is in the Ayr Gold Cup but will need to win again and get a penalty to get into that race and they may choose to take in the alternative Ayr Silver Cup. However he is a sprinter rapidly on the up and has a few more wins in the locker.
4. Almeraq 3yo colt
Almeraq on good ground or softer could be heading for the top of the sprinting ladder. His rating of 105 is more a reflection of how well he was handicapped off a rating of 90 when he won at Ayr. If they choose to go to the Ayr Gold Cup off that mark he will go off less than 3/1.
He is no handicapper and when the rains come i expect he will be straight into listed or Group 3 company and then Group 1. He is a horse to follow this season and next and is a very exciting top class sprinter about to make his mark.
5. Hardy’s Hero 2yo colt
In three or four weeks time I expect there maybe a dozen 2yo’s from the yard that could be added to this list. I have included Hardy’s Hero as he has so much improvement in him having won over 6f and fast ground on his second outing.
He needs 7f and soft ground and i expect he will only be handicapped in the 80’s for that Haydock win. If that is correct he must be backed in a Nursery when he gets his ideal conditions. He looks a 2yo with a great attitude, lots of scope and a touch of class.
Finally a couple of young jockeys to follow.
When they were deciding whether Tom Marquand should do 8-8 to ride Sea Force at York the alternative to go for Warren Fentiman and his 7lb claim must have entered the discussion.
Tom in the end did the hard yards to do the weight , however given his draw and the way the race panned out off a slow pace Fentiman may well have made the difference. Sea Force was beaten less than 1L in sixth, finishing with running left. That was unlucky for us and our small bet. However later the same day Fentiman ironically rode his first winner for the yard. He gave Seren Star a terrific ride to win by under a length, when he could easily have won by 5 lengths and destroyed her handicap mark.
Anything he gets on for the yard especially in big handicaps will now be of great interest for betting purposes.
Away From Somerville Lodge there is some serious money to be made backing the rides of Alexandra Egan , daughter of John and sister of David. She obviously has the genes but she has style, skill and strength plus what seems a great mentality.
I will be amazed if she does not go through her claim within a year and looks destined to go to the very top.
Refahagtag August 2025.
Chrysalis Consortium 
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