Group Three Zetland Stakes Guide 2022

Metal Merchant is looking for three successive victories after a novice win, and last time out a C3 nursery handicap success.

He’s not done much wrong per say, it’s just the level of horse he’s beaten. He will be seriously up against it here, and the three timer looks highly unlikely.

Dear My Friend is quite a nice horse by the looks of things. He won his first two starts at Carlisle and Beverley respectively, he was then sent into G2 company at Glorious Goodwood where he probably found it too much.

Upped in trip and dropped in class in France last time out, in a listed contest over a mile, he ran very well – he was probably unlucky not to finish closer, or even win.

That was a much better showing and he’ll likely stay the trip too. Dangerous.

Liftoff has ran four times and she’s won twice. That’s not the worst strike rate at all. She was well beaten last time out though, when upped in class to G3 level at Longchamp at the start of September.

She didn’t show much at all there, and weakened tamely towards the business end of the race. She gets weight here but she’ll have to turn things around after a seriously lacklustre effort last time out.

Flying Honours made his debut in a strong maiden at the July course in July. He finished a beaten fourth, but it was a good race.

He then won two on the bounce in great style, including a five length romp in the listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury.

He was beaten last time out, when 2/7f in the betting, and it looked as though he may have been tapped for a turn of foot.

This step up in trip should be right up his alley and he will take a lot of beating.

Batemans Bay was a fair enough fifth of ten at Sandown over seven furlongs on debut. It’s worth noting that the maiden he ran in, is probably one of the top maidens ran this year mind.

He won next time out when upped in trip at Haydock. This was over a mile on good to soft ground, he scored impressively and saw the trip out well. If he stays the 10f, he’ll be in with a shout.

Band Of Steel is a Golden Horn colt who got off the mark last time out, at the third time of asking. His win came at Wolverhampton over 8.5f, and he’s improved the further he’s gone.

The step up in trip today looks a positive, though his form is some way off the level that’s likely going to be required to win here.

Blanchard got off the mark at the third time of asking at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago. His two previous efforts were good ones, especially his second to U S S Constitution at Ascot, who looks above average.

His Newcastle form is a long way off the standard set by a lot of these, but it’s possible he could have improved substantially in the last month or so.

Galactic Jack finished third on debut at Goodwood on soft ground, which was a decent effort. He was then upped in trip to today’s distance of 10f, where he ran out a ready winner, again at Goodwood.

He looked to see the trip out really well there and not many of these are confirmed stayers so he certainly has an edge on a few.

Tenerife Sunshine is a Lope De Vega colt who was an absolute no show on debut, but he turned it all around last time out at Newmarket.He battled well to prevail by a short head from Like A Tiger in second.

The standard off that form is a good deal below what’s on offer here but he’s clearly going the right way and must be respected for a trainer that does well in the race.