Sport

Banningham Blade gets picked at the weights

Traditionally run at an end-to-end gallop, Newbury's £50,000-added Wetherbys Super Sprint gives smaller yards a chance to compete…

Sat Jul 19 1997 - 01:00

Traditionally run at an end-to-end gallop, Newbury's £50,000-added Wetherbys Super Sprint gives smaller yards a chance to compete for a big prize with their juveniles. With cheaper horses carrying less weight, it is no surprise that Banningham Blade is at the foot of the card, having been bought by trainer Ken Ivory for about the cost of a rusty 1984 Fiesta.

But there's not much wrong with the engine on Banningham Blade, a speedy filly related to winning sprinters.

Her effort when fourth of 18 to Nadwah in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, a shorthead behind Daunting Lady, marks her out as having the ability to take this race.

Jockey Martin Dwyer gets on well with his mount, and despite the large field Banningham Blade does looks to have an oustanding chance at the weights.

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If the Ruinart Champagne Hackwood Stakes was settled on breeding, there would be no need for any sort of competition.

Za-Im, by Green Desert out of Al Bahathri, does not appear to be in the same league of his parents. However, the colt has showed recently in minor company that he could yet develop into a decent performer.

Second to Poteen on his seasonal re-appearance, he then ran a stinker in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket where all was probably not well.

But his most recent effort when winning a conditions race at Haydock showed that Za-Im is in good heart at present, and if Barry Hills has got the colt on an upward spiral of form, then he is worth keeping faith with.

Yorkshire raider Vagabond Chanteuse makes the trip to Newmarket for the Food Brokers Aphrodite Stakes and Tim Etherington's filly can take the prize.

Second to Vodafone Oaks winner Reams Of Verse in the Musidora Stakes at York before running third at Chantilly, her trainer claims that the filly has strengthened up over the last few weeks and is probably still improving, given that this is only her fourth outing ever.

A repetition of her Knavesmire form would see her go very close here against some interesting rivals - and her solid and proven form makes her sound material for the nap vote.