Mid-season review: Mawj looks overpriced at 25-1 for Guineas

Aidan O’Brien’s Statuette (Justify x Immortal Verse) became the first winner in Europe for US-based Triple Crown winner, Justify, as she created a huge impression when bolting up at Navan over five and a half furlongs.

She skipped a potential engagement at Royal Ascot and instead gained that all-important Group success in the Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh, although many, including myself, believed she didn’t show her full potential there.

Reasons for her below-par performance are not hard to find, though, as she got noticeably distressed in the stalls, and yielding ground seemed to blunt her speed as she took an age to hit top gear.

I’m looking forward to seeing her out again on proper summer ground (if such a thing exists anymore!) and I still think that she’ll be contending all of the Group Ones for fillies later this season, and in to next.

Sometimes a performance can really capture your attention, and that was certainly the case when Mawj (Exceed And Excel x Modern Ideas) bolted up on her debut at Newmarket. I loved how powerfully she travelled through the race and the explosive gear change she produced in the closing stages.

To say I was disappointed when she was beaten in the Albany Stakes would be an understatement, and while her conqueror, Meditate, is clearly smart, I thought we hadn’t seen the real Mawj on that occasion.

It was therefore hugely satisfying to see her deliver such a brilliant performance when winning the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on her third start. It was equally heartening to hear her jockey, Ray Dawson, comment in his post-race interview that he didn’t get the same feel from her at Royal Ascot.

Her dam, Modern Ideas, stayed a mile comfortably, as do her half-siblings Modern News and Modern Games, and while her sire might be better known for sprint performers, he is capable of producing high-class milers, such as Excelebration.

The 25-1 on offer for next year’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas is far too big to ignore, especially as Meditate is half that price.

Karl Burke once again has a cracking crop of juveniles this year, but top of the pile is high-class filly Dramatised (Showcasing x Katies Diamond).

She has looked rapid on both of her starts, the first of which was at Newmarket when she pulverised Malrescia, who won her next two starts.

She then took apart a quality field of fillies when upped to Group Two level in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, although the form of that race has taken a few severe knocks since, with the second, third and fifth all well beaten on their next starts.

That is, of course, a mild concern but, in truth, she was a completely different class to them and simply dominated the race from start to finish.

She looks thoroughly professional and races in a wonderfully relaxed manner plus I was hoping she would take her chance in the Nunthorpe, but it’s understandable that connections want to mind her.

She looks pure speed, with the Commonwealth Cup looking an ideal target for next season.

Flashy chestnut Persian Force (Mehmas x Vida Amorosa) turned the normally competitive Broklesby into something of a procession in March but has since shown himself to be far more than ‘just’ an early type.

He backed that up with a convincing win at Newbury over six furlongs before losing nothing in defeat to Bradsell in the Coventry Stakes, where he possibly found himself on the unfavourable part of the track.

He got back to winning ways in the July Stakes at Newmarket on his last start, although that wasn’t the strongest Group Two contest. However, you had to be impressed by how powerfully he galloped through the line, and he could be better over seven furlongs, or possibly even a mile.

Physically, he isn’t the most impressive and this, coupled with the fact that his full-brother, Gubbass, hasn’t improved from two to three makes me cautious of suggesting where he might head as a three-year old. He has to be respected wherever he heads this season, though.

Time has shown the Windsor Castle to be the hottest juvenile contest of the season so far, with Rocket Rodney (second), Eddie’s Boy (third) and Chateau (fourth) all winning since, as well as the winner.

Heading into Royal Ascot, I was convinced the five-furlong trip would be shorter than ideal for Little Big Bear (No Nay Never x Adventure Seeker). I remain convinced of that, and believe it was simply his class that saw him prevail.

When upped in trip to six and a half furlongs in the Anglesey Stakes, he looked a fearsome proposition as he travelled with consummate ease in the Group Three contest before surging away to win by a wide margin. Again, it wasn’t the deepest race, but Badb, who was five lengths back in third, is rated 99, which adds a degree of value to the form.

Little Big Bear is strong, quick and has a super attitude plus his dam was a Listed winner over ten furlongs. Although his sire raced predominately over sprint trips, he has already, at this relatively early stage of his stallion career, shown himself to be more than capable of producing milers.

I can’t believe he isn’t outright favourite for next year’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas, and the general 16-1 on offer is a tremendous price as I’m certain he will be less than half that price by the end of the season.

Tajalla (Kessaar x Armum), trained by Roger Varian, flew home to win on debut over five furlongs at Newmarket, and he galloped out well through the line suggesting six furlongs could be in range.

That victory came in mid-April, and he hasn’t been seen since, but he was declared a non-runner in late May with a vet’s certificate, so it’s reasonable to assume he’s suffered a setback in training. Keep him in your Racing TV Tracker if he were to appear later this year.

Breege (Starspangledbanner x Wowcha) created a big stir when sluicing up at Wetherby on debut, winning by almost six-lengths from have developed into 75+ rated performers.

She was underwhelming when only second at Pontefract on her next start but, given that she hasn’t been seen in the seven weeks since, I think it’s likely that all was not well.

She holds an entry at Ascot on Saturday, but is worth keeping in your Racing TV Tracker ,regardless of whether or not she takes up that engagement.