4:05 – Newmarket (July) – ADNAMS COPPER HOUSE DISTILLERY EBF CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) (4yo+) Good To Firm 1m
Amoya may well be up against it up in class against four colts and geldings who have much higher Official Ratings this afternoon. However, the 5 year old bay mare comes into the race in good form and as the only mare in the field she receives weight from the rest of the field.
Amoya has made 24 career starts and has won 4 times and been placed on 5 further occasions. She has run 7 times this season and has won twice, in a Class 4 Handicap in May and on her last start in a Class 3 Handicap at Ascot last Saturday when an unconsidered 20/1 shot. Her Ascot win was over 1 mile 2 furlongs but she does have winning form over 1 mile with her win at Yarmouth coming over today’s trip.
She loves to hear her hooves rattling on the turf as both of her wins this season have been on Firm ground. She has also won in Good ground so Good to Firm ground will suit her this afternoon.
She was well thought of when she was trained in Germany as she ran in the Group 1 Preis der Diana which was won by Dancing Rain last season. She came to the UK in 2011 as a Maiden but has now won four times from 16 runs. Her highest handicap mark in the UK is 80 and a mark of her current form is that she is now back up to 79, having been as low as 71 last July. She is ridden by Raul De Silva who appears to get on with her as his first ride on Amoya was her win at Ascot last time.
A win for Amoya will be a big shock today as the betting would suggest – she is currently the 25/1 outsider in a five runner race. However, she runs off just 8st 4lbs and gets 5lbs off three runners and 16lbs off the top weight, Dance And Dance. Dance And Dance won a Class 3 Conditions Stakes last time out, but the other three runners all have something to prove – hence running in a Conditions race which generally offers a better chance at the weights.
Amoya also comes into the race on the back of a win in Class 3, albeit a Handicap and her winning chance comes courtesy of her running style. She is a die hard front runner and it is just possible that she could make all today. She should have the stamina to go hard over 1 mile as she made all over 2 furlongs further last week. Looking at the profiles of Balducci, Bridgefield and Tazahum it is just possible that if she can get a lead they might not put it all in and with 16lbs in hand over Dance And Dance, the gelding may find it hard to get up to her. At 25/1 in a five runner race it is certainly a small investment to find out if the in form mare can successfully make the step up in grade.
