TWE Eye-Catchers Of The Week - 17/10/22

The first eye-catcher from last week was the Roger Varian trained El Drama who finished fifth in the Group One QEII at Ascot on Champions Day.

Lightly raced for his age of four, he was a winner on his sole juvenile start and was then saved for his three year old campaign when running between 1m-1m2f.

His best performances came when winning the Listed Dee Stakes and also second to Baaeed in the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Not seen for over a year having a slight setback he returned as four year old in September over a mile at Newmarket in the Group Two Joel Stakes when running a cracker behind Mutasaabeq after a big break.

Sent to the QEII at the weekend he went to fav in running but at the furlong pole did not have enough to kick on and finished fifth of nine.

The key to this horse looks like being dropped back to 7f as up to that point he looked the most likely winner of the race at a big price.

Second up is the Richard Hannon trained Tacarib Bay who is a superb handicapper for the yard, especially when the heavens open and the ground has soft in the description.

A winner off a mark of 103 on his fourth start this term when finally getting his ground conditions at Haydock, He then put in some decent runs on quicker ground but at the weekend when getting his preferred conditions, he put up another big performance to finish a solid third.

Like El Drama, the key to this horse might be dropping back from a mile to 7f with his effort slightly petering out when getting to the front.

Soft ground and 7f is what this horse needs and if not being penalised too heavy, he should still be on a fair enough mark.

Our final horses to keep an eye on both came from the same race on Saturday at Wolverhampton with the second and fifth both interesting runners going into handicap company next time out.

The first horse is the Saeed bin Suroor trained Stand Strong who looked the winner all the way but was chinned late on by the newcomer for John & Thady Gosden Quantam Cat.

Having finished third on his first two starts over 7f and a mile, firstly behind Vintage Stakes winner Marbaan and We Could Be Heroes and then secondly behind Zetland Stakes second Blanchland.

Secondly, We Could Be Heroes for Richard Hughes was third on debut behind the talented Victory Dance and next time out winner Bresson and then before the weekend saw off Stand Strong when finishing behind Marbaan.

Turning the corner on Saturday at Wolves he looked to hold big claims but with some fast flying finishers, he had to settle for fifth and in a race we think will work out, he could be one off a nice mark in handicaps next time out.

Both interesting runners in the future and that Wolves race is one to follow.