Nayef Road

6th-June-2020

I am backing two of the three Mark Johnston horses in the Sagaro Stakes, Mildenberger and Nayef Road.

Mildenberger is a hugely likeable individual who stays well and goes well on all-weather surfaces.  Third in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket last May, he finished third too behind Stradivarius in the Yorkshire Cup, before taking a break and returning on the all-weather in the winter.

He was impressive in winning over two miles at Lingfield at the end of January this year, and he progessed from that to beat Weekender in an All-Weather Championships qualifier at Chelmsford in early March.  That was probably the best performance of his career, and there is every chance that he can step forward again.  Franny Norton gets on really well with him, his record on him reads 113311, and he should be fitter than most of his rivals.

Nayef Road is different, a high-class young stayer who has the potential to progress now this season.  Third in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last year, he progressed to finish second in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket, and then won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

After disappointing in the Great Voltigeur, he improved again next time, when he stepped up to an extended one mile and six furlongs and finished third in the St Leger, staying on well to get the better of Sir Dragonet for that position.  The step up to two miles today could bring about further improvement.

NAYEF ROAD WON (ADV 9/1, SP 7/1)

MILDENBERGER 2ND (ADV 11/2, SP 4/1)