8:50 – Kempton – BETFAIR HANDICAP (CLASS 4) (3yo 0-80) Standard 1m3f
Sir Michael Stoute has finally got through over a year of mediocre results and his string are firmly back in form. In the last 14 days he has sent out 8 winners from 34 runners at a winning strike rate of 23.5% and he had two winners from four runners on Sunday with an across the card double at Salisbury and Windsor.
Debating Society is an interesting runner in the 8:50 race at a current price of 11/2. The 3 year old bay colt is yet to win a race in four starts but on all four of his runs to date he has looked as though he has needed further and that he will make up into a decent middle distance horse. He has only run over 7 furlongs and 1 mile to date, but this evening he is stepped up to 1 mile 3 furlongs which will suit him much better.
He is making his all weather debut this evening and as a son of Invincible Spirit he should take to the surface well. He has had 142 wins from 520 runners on the surface at a very healthy 27% winning strike rate. Debating Society’s two half sisters, Eleanora Duse and Scottish Stage who are by the same dam have also both won on the all weather.
Debating Society also has plenty of middle distance pedigree on the dams side of his breeding with Eleanora Duse winning at Group 2 and Listed level over 1 mile 2 furlongs, Scottish Stage winning a Listed race over 1 mile 2 furlongs and both Voice Coach and Namibian Orator winning minor events over the same trip. There are also middle distance winners on his sire’s side, with the likes of Speaking Of Which and Allied Powers winning at Group level over middle distances this year.
Pat Dobbs takes the ride tonight and although he is not having his best season he does have a decent strike rate when riding for Sir Michael Stoute with 6 winners from 23 rides over the last 5 seasons.
Debating Society will not have it all his own way this evening and we are taking several factors on trust. He has not run on an artificial surface before and he has not been tried over an extended trip previously. However, on his breeding he is crying out to run over longer trips and he has run well enough in Good ground on the turf, suggesting that he will act on the polytrack surface. With his yard being back in form is does look decent value and if his price shortens pre race the writing could be on the wall for the rest of the field.
