Group Two Park Stakes Guide 2022

Charles Hill’s 6 year old has spent the majority of his career being mainly effective over 6-6.5 furlongs. His career best coming when scoring a Group three event over in Deauville over 6 furlongs last summer with plenty in hand. However, he failed to back that win up in group 2 company and looked to not stay 7 furlongs convincingly on his last outing of last year.

This season has seen him solely kept to 6-6.5 furlongs where he’s been highly consistent. Coming a close 2nd in a group three at Newmarket followed by a decent outing in the Clipper Logistics Stakes at York. A trip over to Deauville in July yielded another impressive win over 6 furlongs and he was by no means disagreed when coming 3rd in the Prix Maurice de Gheest behind Highfield Princess.

He’s yet to win over this trip however so has stamina doubts to overcome.

A very well raced 5 year old mare, Misty Grey graduated from handicap ranks in the winter of 2020 to win smartly off marks of 95 and 99. Earning herself a rating of 104, she was moved up to listed level but failed to make the transition.

Last season saw her struggling for form at listed level but a drop back to handicap ranks saw her get her head back in front despite a mark of 103. She’s been busy this year bouncing between listed, group and handicap ranks but her only success came in a handicap over 6 furlongs.

She did fare well last time out to be a close 2nd to Double Or Bubble in a group 3 at Goodwood but will need to take a major step forward to have a say in this deeper race.

For the all blue of Godolphin, Al Suhail lines up here. An impressive listed win back in 2020 highlighted him as a real force to be reckoned with over a mile but a trip to Meydan in the Spring of last year left him looking a tad exposed. Despite running well to be a close 3rd in a group 1 over 9 furlongs.

Gelded off the back of his time in Meydan, he had a solid season over 7 furlongs. Winning a conditions race easily at prohibitive odds before going on to score a group 2 at Newmarket on his last run of the season in impressive fashion.

A single run in Meydan in the spring left plenty to be desired as he was a well beaten odds on favourite. Last seen in the City Of York Stakes, he may have just needed his first run in 168 days as he was well left behind by Kinross. He may come on for the run but looks to have bundles to find to get involved in his current form.

After breaking her maiden as a 3 year old in the summer of 2020, Double Or Bubble moved to handicap ranks where she quickly progressed and chalked up two impressive wins.

Taken to higher levels of racing last season, she failed to get involved in a group 2 but bounced back to score a listed event over 6 furlongs in impressive style. Only narrowly seen off in group 3 events over 7 furlongs off the back of that she was then well beaten by Al Suhail on her last outing of the campaign.

She’s returned to form this season however, winning a group 3 over 6 furlongs on comeback where she got the better of Garrus in a tight finish, she then wasn’t disgraced in group 1 events.

Last seen stepping back up in trip to 7 furlongs she scored narrowly to just get the better of Misty Grey with a smart turn of foot. Connections will be hoping the ground stays quick however and she’s untested on rain softened ground.

Ralph Beckett’s charge has earmarked himself as a solid 7 furlong specialist in his career and the 5 year old arrives here in fine form. An impressive winner on debut, he then struggled to find his feet in group races over 7 furlongs to a mile. That was until a listed win over a mile at Kempton came in late 2020.

An emphatic start to last season saw him win the John Of Gaunt stakes easily before narrowly capturing the Lennox Stakes from Creative Force at Goodwood last year. His form did dip off a little off the back of that. Unable to land a blow in group 1 races over 6 furlongs to 7 furlongs. He was then beaten in the John Of Gaunt stakes this year on return in a tight finish and also failed to regain his Lennox crown when beaten a neck by Sandrine.

However he bounced back last time out to win the City Of York Stakes in convincing fashion. A solid and consistent performer at this level, he’s certainly the one to beat.

A three year old colt out of Galileo Gold, The Wizard Of Eye scored once last season when winning a novice race over 6 furlongs handily. Upped in trip and grade off the back of that he looked a little out of his depth and failed to get seriously involved in group contests.

Kept at group level this season, he’s fared much the same finishing midfield in group events and being well beaten in the 2000 Guineas after being sent off at 200/1.

Last seen shaping much better in a contest over 8 furlongs at Goodwood, he was only narrowly held off by Rocchigiani he didn’t suggest there that this drop down in trip would suit. He was staying on well over a mile last time so might lack the pace to get involved in this strong looking race over a shorter trip than looks ideal.

A convincing winner over 7 furlongs in a maiden event on debut, New Energy failed when stepping up in grade off the back of that and was put away for the winter.

He then shaped well enough in listed contests before a very impressive run at big odds to be 2nd to Native Trail in the Irish 2000 Guineas. However his form has tailed off since then and he’s not fulfilled the promise he showed at the Curragh in the first Irish Classic of the season.

Well beaten in the St James’s Palace stakes by the late Coroebus, he was then a well beaten 7th over at Deauville last time out over 7 furlongs. This drop in grade might help him find his feet and if showing the same form he did back in May he could be in with a chance.