Group Three Criterion Stakes Guide 2022

A lightly raced 5 year old for the Gosdens, Sunray Major scored handsomely over a mile on debut but failed to back that up on his next outing despite strong market support.

Not seen for 453 days after that, he returned to racing at the end of last season and handily won a novice event before scoring in handicap company.

He was unable to justify favouritism for the Balmoral handicap at the end of last season and hasn’t returned in the best of form this year.

Being well beaten on his first two outings of the campaign over a mile, he stepped back in trip last time out and ran well to be beaten only half a length by Pogo.

His best outing for a while but he’s got some ground to find with Pogo and Laneqash.

Last seen winning a group 4 race over this trip for connections, Pogo has been a highly consistent sort over the years.

Mainly kept over 7 furlongs to a mile, Pogo scored multiple successes in handicap company. Scoring off some lofty marks, he managed to move up to listed company back in 2020 and scored over a mile at Windsor to gain an easy listed win.

He failed to step up in grade off the back of that but did manage to capture another listed success at Leicester at the start of last season.

His form took a dip after that but he bounced back with a group 3 last time out, beating Laneqash narrowly. However he now gives 8lbs away to that rival.

Despite being a 6 year old Art Du Val has only been seen 13 times on a racecourse. Scoring as a 2 year old he then went on to win a brace of listed races as a 3 year old before being gelded.

He’s spent the majority of his career over in Meydan and managed to score a decent handicap over in Dubai when winning a 9 furlong handicap. He’s since been tried at higher grades in the Far East but has failed to get seriously involved.

Running over 8 to 9 furlongs he was often well outclassed in group 2 and group 1 events.

A return to English soil at York last month saw him run well to be 2nd over a mile in listed company. Leading to the furlong pole and gradually waking out of the race, dropping in trip might just suit him.

A 4 year old gelding for Roger Varian has only won once in his career but has run well in defeat multiple times.
Winning on debut as a 2 year old over 7 furlongs, he just failed when stepped up to listed company and lost by a head.

Returning as a 3 year old he went close in a group 3 only to be beaten by the impressive Sacred. Kept at group 2 level after that he failed to place at 7 furlongs and a mile but again ran creditably.

Back this year off the back of a gelding operation he shaped well in a group 3 over 7 furlongs last time out to only be beaten a nose by Pogo.

He gets an 8lbs swing in the weights with that rival now and certainly looks the one to beat on paper if coming on for his recent run.

Starting her career in Ireland with John Feane, Bounce The Blues scored a maiden and a listed race over 7 furlongs as a 3 year old.

However she failed to really kick on from that after moving to the care of Andrew Balding. Being beaten in a group 3 and a listed race before being put away for the season. Last season failed to yield any success for the filly either.

Being beaten in listed and group contests over 7 and 8 furlongs, but she did go close on her last outing at Ascot on soft ground.

She returned in decent form in a listed race over 7 furlongs in May again on soft ground. She should come on for that outing but might just be lacking the class to make her presence felt at this level.

While under the care of Tom Dascombe last season, this 3 year old gained some decent handicap successes as a 2 year old.

Having a busy opening campaign, he had 8 outings and managed to win four times. Scoring a couple of handicaps and a conditions race, but he found himself held in listed company at the end of the season over 6 furlongs.

He returned in fine form this year and won a handicap nicely over 6 furlongs before struggling in group 2 company over the same trip.

However, moving up to 7 furlongs last time out brought about some improvement and he scored a listed race at Epsom handily.

Worth his place in this grade and he gets weight from his older rivals if he’s up to the task.

This 3 year old gelding has only been seen twice in his career so far. Winning a maiden at Doncaster over 7 furlongs in convincing fashion back in April, Bass Player looked to have plenty of potential.

Upped to listed level last time out, he ran well enough but was well beaten behind Ever Given at Epsom. Looking green in behind the front two, he hung quite badly to his right and looked a little outpaced.

He’ll have learnt plenty from that experience but needs to find bundles of improvement to have a say in this deeper contest.