‘Taylor’ Made for an Upset
A half-dozen European invaders will tackle six North American-based turf distaffers in Sunday’s GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine that appears ripe for an upset.
Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum’s Talmada (Cape Cross {Ire}) is no better than a 15-1 chance on the morning line, and while she may well tighten up in the market from there, should still offer some betting value. Two of the 4-year-old’s best performances have arguably come in defeat this season, as she ran would-be GI Beverly D. S. winner Secret Gesture (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to 1 1/2 lengths when second in the G2 Middleton S. at York May 14 and when a length runner-up to subsequent G1 Irish Oaks and Prix de l’Opera winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) in the Listed Hoppings S. in June. A pace-pressing fifth to the re-opposing Nakuti (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the one-mile G3 Atalanta S. after failing to negotiate the home turn at Sandown Aug. 22, she settled nicely behind horses in Yarmouth’s John Musker S. Sept. 16 and finished well to score by a half-length (video). Nakuti will try a distance beyond a mile for the first time and may have been lucky to score at Sandown, as Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) was catching stride for stride after lacking running room in the stretch. The latter shipped to the U.S. to be a good second to Sentiero Italia (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GII Sands Point S. Sept. 12.
Godolphin’s Devonshire (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) was a longshot third to Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in May, but well down the field against the boys in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot. She has stretched out to nine panels in her last two, and showed plenty of stamina in annexing the Listed Listowel S. over heavy ground Sept. 16 (video).
Shadwell Stable’s Yaazy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) ships in from France for trainer John Hammond, who sent out then 3-year-old filly Insight (Fr) (Sadler’s Wells) to win the 1998 E. P. Taylor. Unraced at two, the homebred was third in the G2 Prix de Malleret in just her second start at Saint-Cloud June 28 and was beaten 3/4 of a length into second by Candarliya (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Minerve at Deauville in August. The latter was runner-up to Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) in the G1 Prix Vermeille and annexed the G2 Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend. When last seen, Yaazy led throughout to take the Listed Prix Joubert at Saint-Cloud Sept. 14 (video) and tries the shortest distance of her career Sunday.
Curvy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who took the G2 Ribblesdale S. at the Royal meeting in June and was third to Covert Love in the Irish Oaks, is the mild 3-1 favorite on the morning line and may have found the ground too easy when fifth to Stephanie’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) in the GI Flower Bowl S. at Belmont Oct. 3.
Of the locals, Strut the Course (Strut the Stage) looks the strongest off her success in the GII Canadian S. Sept. 13, but she had just a half-length to spare over Button Down (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) that day and she will be a fraction of the price of the latter come post time.