Handicappers' Corner: Chicquita confirms French strength

Chicquita's victory in the Irish Oaks saw her join a select band of classic winners that went into the race as a maiden, Bachelor Duke being the last to achieve that feat in an Irish classic in the Guineas in 2003. Where Chicquita is unique though, is that she's the first winner of an Irish classic that has ever thrown away certain victory after careering into a hedge on an earlier outing.

A daughter on Montjeu, Chicquita clearly has her share of temperament, as she showed again on Saturday when hanging markedly left into the middle of the track in the closing stages, but it also confirmed that she's a smart filly with the potential to rate higher.  
 
The Irish Oaks was rather messy, the field finished well bunched after a steady pace, with just 3 lb separating the first five. In a more truly-run race, it's likely the first two would have pulled further clear and that is what the post-race ratings reflect.

Although running to a bare rating of 115, Chicquita's new master rating is 117p, while the runner-up Venus de Milo has also been given extra over the bare form, her new rating 115p. Rather like with the colts, the Irish Oaks suggests that the French middle-distance fillies are currently ahead of their British and Irish counterparts, Chicquita having finished 4 lengths behind Treve (123p) in the Prix de Diane.

The performance of Epsom Oaks winner Talent was too bad to be true, but given how that race was run to suit the hold-up horses who have all been below-par subsequently, the level of that race, and her rating, comes down 2 lb to 116.  

Supporting the Irish Oaks, all eyes were on US import Darwin in the Minstrel Stakes. He didn't disappoint and looks likely to progress into a bona-fide Group 1 contender. 

After winning the first of two starts in the US for Todd Pletcher, he's won both starts since coming to Europe, earning a figure of 118p for his defeat of Gordon Lord Byron. A really imposing type physically, Darwin looks likely to have a productive second half of the season. 

There's certainly every likelihood that Darwin (USA) will fare better than O'Brien's Darwin (IRE) who beat only one of his 23 rivals when contesting open Group 1 races in 2001.

A potential rival for Darwin should he take up either his entry in the Juddmonte International or Irish Champion Stakes could be Sir Michael Stoute's Telescope who belatedly showed in public much of what many a Newmarket gallop watcher suggested he would when making a successful reappearance in a three-runner conditions race at Leicester.

Those that rely on yardsticks to assess horses merit might tell you the form is useless, coming home 24 lengths and 20 lengths ahead of his two rivals but using more sophisticated methods point to the horse posting a Group 2 standard performance. Rated 104P coming into the race, Telescope is now rated 120p, the timefigure of 118 providing most of the substance to the effort.

In terms of the middle-distance pecking order, a rating of 120p sees Telescope rated just behind the likes of Trading Leather (122) and Ruler Of The World (121) and leaves Derby ante-post backers wondering what might have been.

Over in France, the British challengers proved disappointing in the Prix Robert Papin, but the filly Vorda impressed as she maintained her unbeaten record. Now rated 111p, she shares the billing of being the highest-rated European 2-y-o filly in training with Albany winner Kiyoshi.

The most valuable race in Britain over the weekend was the Super Sprint at Newbury and that went the way of Peniaphobia. Given that Peniaphobia is defined as a 'fear of poverty', connections will doubtless be relieved to have picked up the £122,925 first prize. An increase in his rating to 102 suggests pattern races could be on his agenda, but a tilt at the valuable Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar later in the year is likely to appeal too. 

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