Horses In Focus / Editor / 14 July 2009 / Leave a comment

Timeform bring their A game as they take a close look at three horses for which the future looks bright...

The Group 2 July Stakes appeared a strong race on paper and looked to produce a potential Group 1 performer in the shape of the Brian Meehan-trained Arcano. Having shown an impressive turn of foot to land a strongly-contested maiden at Newbury on debut, the son of Oasis Dream produced a similar visual display to end the unbeaten record of Orpen Grey. The performance was smart in its own right and with further improvement to come, Arcano looks a strong contender for the top juvenile races.

The Mark Johnston-trained Awzaan was another juvenile to post an impressive display at the July meeting, surging clear off a strong pace to beat Amary by five lengths in a six-furlong conditions race. The race hosted a number of unbeaten horses and, in winning by such a margin, Awzaan ran to a level of form bettered by only the front two in the July Stakes. Further improvement should be forthcoming and the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood was mentioned as a possible target.

Sir Michael Stoute has always held three-year-old filly Ave in high regard, having run her in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes as a two-year-old, off the back of an impressive maiden win. Having produced a promising reappearance at three, she didn't race for over two months, but came back with an impressive four-length win in a mile handicap at Salisbury on softish ground. Ave looks a smart performer in the making, is sure to stay beyond a mile, and is a potential pattern race contender.