Prix Daniel Wildenstein 2013 Preview / Tips

Prix Daniel Wildenstein 2013 Preview / Tips

Can Omar’s Don Bosco bag the Daniel Wildenstein?

This all age mile contest is a Group 2, and attracts a decent field from across Europe. In the last sixteen years, just three three-year-olds have won the Daniel Wildenstein, and that’s enough for me to (foolishly?) overlook the vintage posse, despite what is ostensibly a reasonable three pounds weight-for-age allowance.

A huge field of eighteen are entered, six of them three-year-olds. The field size could well have a bearing on the outcome, with inside posts and prominent run styles generally less likely to encounter troubled passages in a race that will almost certainly create hard luck stories.

Of the raiding party, only three have managed to nick this since the turn of the century, and they were all trained by Saeed bin Suroor. Five British or Irish horses attempt to claim the prize this time, none in the royal blue silks of Godolphin.

Those drawn low and with a fairly prominent running style include Don Bosco, Fire Ship, and Gereon, which will probably try to lead. Fire Ship is trained in England by William Knight, and he’ll have his work cut out to win in this lofty grade, despite some decent efforts in recent times at Listed and Group 3 level.

The other pair are interesting. Don Bosco, owned by Omar Sharif, couldn’t live with the Group 1 speedsters in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last time, but had previously run Intello to two lengths, and before that ran Maxios to three lengths. And, four starts back, he won a Group 2 on good to soft over a mile. Those are the conditions he’ll face here, and on that basis he has an each way squeak.

Gereon will be ridden by Brit, Liam Jones, who keeps the ride after steering the horse to a Group 2 win in Germany last time out. He made all there and he’s likely to attempt to do the same again here, from a decent draw in seven. Gereon has run behind some pretty smart horses in his career: Excelebration, Waldpark, Danedream, Worthadd, and he’s a smart enough animal in his own right.

The best, and the best drawn, of the British is Gregorian, in stall five. Trained by Johnny G, who won this in 1997 with Decorated Hero, Gregorian has run some fine races this year, including when third in the Queen Anne Stakes, a Group 1 at Royal Ascot. He’s versatile regarding ground and running style, and has won from seven to nine furlongs: in other words, he’s likely to run his race again here.

For all that, his only win at this mile trip was in a very weak conditions race at Hamilton where he was sent off the 1/7 favourite. A place looks to be reserved for him, but I’d be surprised if nothing was able to pass him before the jam stick.

If it came up boggy and if he could get across from his wide-ish draw, Penitent would have a decent chance. Alas, it looks as though the luck of the Irish has deserted them on the ferry, with Brendan Bracken and Yellow Rosebud pulling posts 18 and 17 respectively: in the car park.

It’s a trappy race, and I’ll be betting based on early speed and a low draw. That brings in Don Bosco and Gereon for me, both of which should be nice each way prices. The former may just be suited to stalking the latter, and benefit from that slip-streaming to prevail.

If it came up soft, Penitent would certainly be of interest.

Each way pick in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein: Don Bosco

Soft ground choice: Penitent