Features / Timeform / 03 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Timeform looks at two yards on course for a successful 2010...

"Goodwood specialist Illustrious Blue was seemingly a different horse when winning the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes. Unproven at the two-mile trip, he was switched off at the back in an effort to help him stay. There’s no doubt that the emphasis on speed in the closing stages played to his strengths and it seems unlikely that Illustrious Blue is about to reinvent himself as a stayer."

The Michael Jarvis yard was boosted by the return of regular rider Phillip Robinson at the weekend, and his top jockey has returned to a stable making a fine start to the season. The Newmarket handler sent out six winners in April, highlighted by the impressive handicap victories of Alainmaar and Kings Destiny. The former underlined his potential with success in the City and Suburban Stakes at Epsom, while Kings Destiny proved himself to be a smart performer with an all-the-way success at Lingfield on Friday. Both are likely to take their chance in pattern company next time. With his globetrotting star Pressing likely to be targeted at more glory overseas, and the very smart Opinion Poll set to mark his mark in staying events this year, there look to be exciting times ahead for the Jarvis team.

William Knight enjoyed pattern race success on two occassions at Ascot on Wednesday as King of Dixie and old favourite Illustrious Blue came home in front. The former took the Paradise Stakes, and proved himself to be as good as ever in the process. King of Dixie is clearly fragile, and had not been seen for nearly a year, yet he overcame the absence to defeat odds-on chance Cityscape by a neck. King of Dixie has a good record fresh, so it remains to be seen if he can go on from this success. Goodwood specialist Illustrious Blue was seemingly a different horse when winning the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes. Unproven at the two-mile trip, he was switched off at the back in an effort to help him stay. There's no doubt that the emphasis on speed in the closing stages played to his strengths and it seems unlikely that Illustrious Blue is about to reinvent himself as a stayer, but it was a heart-warming success for the seven-year-old. Another double followed at Folkestone on Thursday, and clearly Knight's horses are in fine fettle at the moment.

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Tags: Alainmaar, Illustrious Blue, King of Dixie, Michael Jarvis, Opinion Poll, William Knight