Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes Guide 2022

A highly talented 2 year old for James Ferguson, El Bodegon scored a novice over 7 furlongs on bottomless ground before going close in a group 3 race.

Moved up in trip after those runs, he managed to win a group 3 over in France over 9 furlongs smartly. Rounding out his juvenile season with a comprehensive group 1 success over 10 furlongs, he looked his best on soft ground.

Making his seasonal comeback in the Dante Stakes, he was well beaten by eventual Derby hero Desert Crown but bounced right back to be a decent enough 2nd to subsequent Coral Eclipse winner Vadeni in a group 1 event over in France.

Last seen South of the Channel again he finished a very respectable 3rd in the Grand Prix De Paris. He’s a talented enough sort who’s not been disgraced in group 1 company recently but looks to need soft ground to be at his best.

Making the trip over from Ireland for Aidan O’Brien, Aikhal made a late debut to racing as a 2 year old and had his first outing in September last year. Coming 2nd on debut, he got his head in front only a few days later to break his maiden.

Moved up to group company for his last 2 outings of the season, he came 4th over a mile behind Coroebus in a decent enough showing before coming 4th again in a group 1 at Saint-Cloud.

Making his return to action as a 3 year old in the St James’s Palace Stakes, he failed to fire over a mile and was a well beaten 11th of the 11 runners.

However, taken up to 10 furlongs when last seen he shaped much better to win a group 3 at the Curragh.

Sent off 20/1 in the betting for the race, he tracked the leader and smartly went clear in the last furlong to score with plenty in hand.

On what he achieved last time out he should be favourite.

James Ferguson brings his gelding Deauville Legend here off the back of a decent 2nd in group 3 company last time out.

Beaten on his debut as a 2 year old, he was gelded off the back of that and did shape better on his next run to be 2nd.

Put away for the winter, he came back in maiden company to win nicely at Windsor over 10 furlongs. Taken to handicaps off the back of that he was narrowly denied in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot by Secret State.

Scoring a group 3 next time out over 13 furlongs, he was then only denied by New London at Goodwood when giving that rival 3lbs.

He’s shown he’s effective in group company but failed to beat Secret State when in receipt of weight at Ascot. Unlikely to be far away.

The second string for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, James Doyle takes the ride on Walk Of Stars. The gelding scored in a maiden on his last outing as a juvenile in maiden company last year before being put away for the winter.

Returning to action this season in a conditions race, he just got up to win a 3 runner event over 10 furlongs before being denied in a listed race over 11.5 furlongs.

Sent for the Derby after shaping well enough in a trial, he ran very poorly to be the last home and beat a massive 71 lengths.

He fared much better in a group 3 event last time out where he came 3rd behind Deauville Legend narrowly in a tight finish.

Only beaten a neck he’s well worth his place in this field but might just find his rivals too good again but interesting.

Only making his debut late last year, Grand Alliance has been kept on the go since having 8 runs in total. Beaten in his first two outings, he eventually scored at the third time of asking to win over 10 furlongs on the all weather at Chelmsford.

Moved to handicap company after breaking his maiden, he won easily off a mark of 81. Only narrowly denied in listed company after that, he was then sent for the Derby but only managed to come home 11th and was well beaten by Desert Crown.

A much better outing at Royal Ascot saw him come a very close 2nd to Changingoftheguard in a clear career best performance. A poor start out the gates at Goodwood saw him never really get involved in the Gordon Stakes however.

He shaped really nicely at Royal Ascot but he let himself down last time out. More will be required here if he’s to get involved.

Debuting as a 3 year old this season, Secret State started life racing over a mile at Newmarket back in April and shaped well enough to be 2nd.

Moved up in trip off the back of that to break his maiden over 10 furlongs at Chester in fine fashion. Easily pulling well clear of the field.

Dropped back in trip off the back of that he ran over a mile again and managed to defy his penalty to win again in a novice race.
He’s been taken handicapping since then. Winning the King George V Stakes narrowly from Deauville Legend, he managed to give away 4lbs to that rival and hold him off by a head.

Moved up to a rating of 100 after his Royal Ascot win, he again lined up in handicap company at Goodwood last month and scored impressively off a big weight.

Clearly still improving and too good for handicaps, he looks ready to dip his toe into group company.