Group Three Sovereign Stakes Guide 2022

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

Salisbury - August 10 2022
Salisbury 15:15
2(1)
Kieran Shoemark

Sinjaari

J: Kieran Shoemark
T: Harry & Roger Charlton
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-5
OR: 108
Days: 13

The first runner in the race is the frequently seen handicapper Sinjaari for Harry & Roger Charlton with the largely consistent performer now on a handicap mark that has seen him have to step up in grade to these types of events.

The 11/2 outsider for this event, he is not without a chance even though the market has written him off.

Fifth of 29 at Royal Ascot three starts ago in the Royal Hunt Cup, off 1lb lower next time out he then went to Sandown and won the Coral Challenge in decisive fashion.

Up to a mark of 108 for his latest run at Glorious Goodwood he only beat one home but on the bare form of his last few runs he is better than that and if the race gets tactical he could pull off a shock.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
11/08/22SAL8GF9-53
29/07/22GOO8GF10-017
02/07/22SAN8GF9-111
15/06/22ASC8GF9-115
14/05/22NBY8Gd9-53
Salisbury - August 10 2022
Salisbury 15:15
3(3)
Hollie Doyle

Tempus

J: Hollie Doyle
T: Archie Watson
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-5
OR: 108
Days: 19

A really hardy horse for Archie Watson, very much like Sinjaari in the sense he always seems to run his race but he has struggled when stepping up in grade to this company.

Sent to Windsor three starts ago the son of Kingman was second behind favourite Modern News and although finishing third of 29 in the Royal Hunt Cup and winning well last time out at Ascot, it is hard to see him reversing the form with the Godolphin horse.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
01/04/23DON8Hy9-24
18/02/23DOH8Gd9-26
04/02/23LIN8St9-24
15/10/22ASC8GS9-69
23/09/22NMK8Gd9-63
Salisbury - August 10 2022
Salisbury 15:15
1(4)
William Buick

Modern News

J: William Buick
T: Charlie Appleby
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-5
OR: 111
Days: 18

A strong favourite at the top of the market in this field, Modern News has shown his ability this term when landing the Spring Cup over a mile at Newbury and then backing that up at Windsor next time out when dominating Tempus.

Since then he has been seen finishing second at Epsom on the Group Three Diomed Stakes behind the winner of this race last year Megallan and then he finished runner up again, this time at Windsor when chinned on the line by My Oberon.

Sent to Pontefract last time out he gave his first bad run of the season when third of six in a Listed event, but the first has since come out and franked the form in a better race.

Tough to beat if on bis A-Game.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
10/02/23MEY7Gd9-02
20/01/23MEY8Gd9-06
11/08/22SAL8GF9-52
24/07/22PON8Gd9-103
25/06/22WDR8GF9-112
Salisbury - August 10 2022
Salisbury 15:15
4(2)
Jason Watson

Berkshire Shadow

J: Jason Watson
T: Andrew Balding
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 8-12
OR: 110
Days: 13

The youngest horse in the race is the Andrew Balding trained Berkshire Shadow who receives 7lb of the rest of the field and that could be the difference if bouncing back to form.

A very smart juvenile winning his first two events at Ascot and Newbury over five and six furlongs, he then went to Goodwood over 7f and finished a good second behind dual Group One winner Angel Bleu in the G2 Vintage Stakes at last years meeting.

Seen twice more as a two year old he ran no race in the Gimcrack Stakes but then put up a superb performance to finish fourth in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes.

Back this term he made his seasonal debut in the 2000 Guineas and was a good fifth at a big price, and then next time out was not disgraced in the Group One St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot when sixth in a bunched finish.

Seen once more, he was last seen behind Mighty Ulysses and Alflaila in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes in third, with the latter horse since franking the form.

Below par last time out at Glorious Goodwood in the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes but this is much easier.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
07/04/23NCS8St9-71
11/03/23WOL7St9-51
11/08/22SAL8GF8-124
29/07/22GOO8GF9-36
07/07/22NMK8GF9-53