CENTRUM TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT SALISBURY
By Chris Phillips, Press Association
All eyes will be on Centrum when he makes his debut for John and Thady Gosden on an afternoon which could feature some exciting prospects at Salisbury
A half-brother to dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Oaks winner Enable, the three-year-old is bred to stay and kicks off his career over a mile and a quarter.
Enable won on her introduction at Newcastle 10 years ago and Centrum is expected to follow suit in the the Kingsclere Racing Club Maiden Stakes.
In the preceding Danny McNab Bookmakers Novice Stakes, Ralph Beckett’s Le Samourai is another noteworthy entry.
The Wathnan Racing-owned half-brother of multiple Group One-winning Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior was a 450,000 guineas buy at the Tattersalls Yearling October Book 1 sales in 2024.
He did not make it the track at two and has been gelded, but nevertheless can hit the ground running at a time the owners ramp up their search for winners.
Eve Johnson Houghton won the opening Clive Cox Racing EBF Restricted Novice Stakes with subsequent Group One hero Zavateri 12 months ago and it will be interesting to see if Foscarini can follow suit in division one of this year’s running for same owners Mick and Janice Mariscotti.
Like Zavateri, Foscarini is a son of Without Parole and holds entries for some valuable sales races later in the season so could be another sharp mover for the shrewd Johnson Houghton operation.
The pick of the runners at Carlisle could be Jet Warrior, who goes in search of his hat-trick in the Racing TV Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap.
The four-year-old was well beaten twice in Ireland over a mile and a quarter while under the guidance of Natalia Lupini before switching to the stable of Ben Haslam in North Yorkshire.
Dropped back in trip, he was well held at Newcastle and Thirsk before he began to find his feet when a length and three-quarters third at Southwell over seven furlongs.
He finally put it all together at the sixth time of asking last month over six furlongs at Ayr, where the quicker ground brought out the best in him as he pulled away to win by the best part of four lengths.
He followed up under a 5lb penalty at Ripon just eight days later and although now having another 5lb hike to contend with, has the potential to take the rise in his stride and extend his winning streak.
It may also pay to side with Eevee Star when attempting to make it second time lucky in the Watch Racing TV Live EBF Novice Stakes after an encouraging debut Ripon last month.
Having been slowly away, Ed Bethell’s daughter of Showcasing made smooth headway before keeping on nicely, not beaten far and hinting that she will have learned plenty for the experience.
Cape Toronada has been performing well in defeat and can record a first win in the Free Bets On attheraces.com Handicap at Brighton.
Over the jumps at Southwell, Beorma can make it four wins on the spin for Dan and Harry Skelton in the RCA Summer Jumps Championship Handicap Chase.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
SALISBURY: Race 1: 15.18 Foscarini, Race 2: 15.48 Harry Knows, Race 3: 16.18 Distant Rumble, Race 4: 16.48 LE SAMOURAI (NAP), Race 5: 17.18 Centrum, Race 6: 17.53 Rossa Raheen, Race 7: 18.28 Marra Donna.
SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 15.30 Huckleberry Sting, Race 2: 16.00 Beorma, Race 3: 16.30 Cher Monsieur, Race 4: 17.00 Manalishi, Race 5: 17.30 Prettylady, Race 6: 18.05 Fighting Falcon, Race 7: 18.35 Copper Beach.
CARLISLE: Race 1: 19.12 Jet Warrior, Race 2: 19.42 Eevee Star, Race 3: 20.12 Glory Road, Race 4: 20.42 Spoof, Race 5: 21.12 Dubai Venture, Race 6: 21.42 Mr Moonshine.
BRIGHTON: Race 1: 19.21 Rainbow Sign, Race 2: 19.51 Mister Sandman, Race 3: 20.21 Rogue Dynasty, Race 4: 20.51 Letsbeatsepsis, Race 5: 21.21 Cape Toronada, Race 6: 21.51 Ancient State.
DOUBLE: Le Samourai and Centrum (Salisbury, Races 4 and 5).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za