2:05 – Newbury – DUBAI DUTY FREE ARC TRIAL (GROUP 3) (CLASS 1) (3yo+) Good To Firm 1m3f5y
Cameron Highlander runs in a Group race for the first this afternoon when he takes on four rivals in the Arc Trial at Newbury, in which none of the five runners are entered in the Longchamp showpiece. Cameron Highlander has been brought on sensibly by his trainer Roger Varian and as such the 3 year old bay colt is having just his 7th run today. Somewhat different from Dvinsky who ran for a record breaking 218th time at Wolverhampton last night.
Cameron Highlander has won on three of his five starts this season, including winning on his last two runs and the form of his last race looks rock solid. His last run was in the Listed August Stakes at Windsor against four rivals. He made all and stayed on strongly from 2 furlongs out and was clear inside the final furlong to win unchallenged by 4 ½ lengths. One would normally be somewhat suspicious of the form when a horse wins by such a large margin as it is not unreasonable to ask the question ‘what did he beat’. However, the horses who finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th have all come out and won on their next runs in Listed, Class 2 and Class 3 races respectively.
The going at Newbury is Good to Firm which will suit Cameron Highlander who has won in Good ground and been placed in Good to Firm ground. The race distance is also well within his proven range as he has won over both 1 mile 2 furlongs and 1 mile 3 ½ furlongs.
He is ridden by his regular jockey Neil Callan today and Neil has ridden him five times, winning three times and finishing placed on another run. Neil has been on board for Cameron Highlander’s last two winning runs.
Although Cameron Highlander is running against older horses for the first time today it does mean that he gets a 7lb weight for age allowance and on the form of his last run has every chance up in grade. Lay Time will probably be his most dangerous rival as she won a Group 3 on his last run at Windsor. However, that was in Soft ground and her form in Good to Firm ground is not as convincing. As an unexposed 3 year old Cameron Highlander is still improving and this son of Galileo can prove too good for his opposition today.
