Royal tilt on the agenda for Rocks

Sheer Rocks

Won, 1m4f handicap, Epsom, Saturday, June 3

It wasn’t a day for front-runners on the round course at Epsom last Saturday, with the winners described as ‘dwelt start, in rear’, ‘midfield’, ‘slowly into stride, raced in last’, ‘travelled strongly, midfield’, slowly away, prominent’ and ‘in rear’.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Sheer Rocks missed a beat at the start in the 1m4f Rio Ferdinand Foundation Northern Dancer Handicap but soon recovered to race just behind pacesetter Caius Chorister, the 3-1 favourite.

The four-year-old was always travelling comfortably and quickened nicely when pulled off the rail to score eased down by two lengths. He’s tactically versatile, effective on both fast and soft going and is now two from two since being gelded. He’s likely to head for one of the handicaps at Royal Ascot.

Struth

Second, 1m6½f handicap, Doncaster, Saturday, June 3

Struth did well to finish second after setting a strong gallop and will be of interest at Glorious Goodwood.

The Johnston yard usually run a few in the Class 2 Chris Shaw’s 60th Birthday CMT Ltd Handicap over the St Leger course and distance and last week’s race was no exception.

Struth, sent off at 9-1, was the shortest priced of the stable’s three runners (the others were 10-1 and 18-1) and emerged best of them, finishing two lengths behind the patiently ridden Saint George after setting a strong gallop at a venue where such tactics are rarely rewarded. The son of Australia came from well off the pace when scoring over 1m4½f on soft ground at Chester last month and if the forcing tactics are going to be persevered with then Glorious Goodwood, rather than Doncaster, might prove to be a more suitable venue to showcase his talents.

Both of his wins have come on his seasonal debuts, but he’s had only five runs and there’s not enough evidence to say that he must have long breaks between his races.

Dora Milaje Won, 1m novice stakes, Thirsk, Monday, June 5

Dora Milaje didn’t have the race run to suit but still managed to maintain her 100 per cent record.

The David O’Meara-trained 7-1 shot Dora Milaje made a winning debut at Pontefract last September, taking advantage of her stall one draw to sneak up the far rail and deny 11-8 favourite Lerwick.

Reappearing after a 256-day break in Monday’s Constant Security Restricted Novice Stakes at Thirsk, the daughter of Mondialiste was strong in the betting as post time approached, going off at 13-2 from 11-1.

Held up in rear off a steady early pace set by Mark Walford’s 33-1 chance Cori Glory, she looked to have a mountain to climb three out but swept from last to first down the outside of the field to deny the always prominent 9-4 favourite Rajindri. This wasn’t the strongest novice contest, but she looks sure to improve as stepped up in trip and can be closely followed for the remainder of the season.