Kevin Stott’s Blog: Hoping for Maxi-mum success and Forceful Speed at Doncaster

I couldn’t have been happier to ride a winner on the first Turf meeting of the year last weekend at the Curragh, especially in the Amo Racing colours.

Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come this season and I’ve got some nice horses to ride at the UK Flat Season opener – the Lincoln meeting at Doncaster.

Doncaster, Saturday

First up, I ride Valadero in the Brocklesby (1.50pm). He’s been bred for seven furlongs in the ideal world but his work has been nice enough to suggest he could go well. It’s going to take some stamina in the ground so that may help. Whatever he does first time will be a step for the future and he’ll be a lovely horse in time.

Next is Lion Tower in the Spring Mile Handicap (2.25pm). The ground has gone against him now so that’s not ideal, but he does go well fresh and has won on seasonal reappearances in the past. Let’s hope for the best.

In the Lincoln itself (3.35pm) I ride Baradar. He loves Doncaster and he loves testing ground. The slight question is the trip as his best form is at over seven furlongs, rather than a mile. This has been his long-term target, though, so hopefully he can run a huge race.

Maxi King, who runs in the maiden (4.45pm), is yet to manage a win but he’s run some great races in defeat. I’m sure he is crying out for this step up in trip and also the softer ground. There are some interesting newcomers, such as Astrodome from the Gosdens’ yard – a Sea The Stars colt whose dam was a Group 3 winner, but I think we could go close even so.

Doncaster, Sunday

My first ride on Sunday is Forceful Speed in the 1m2f handicap (2.10pm), who won twice in 2022 and has been gelded since, which could help him improve again. He stepped up in trip in the autumn and that helped him massively. He likes to be ridden forwards so hopefully we can have an easy time of things on the front end here.

Next is Major Major, who makes his third start in the St Leger Novice Stakes (2.45pm). He drops back in trip for this, which may help him a bit as he weakened late on at Lingfield last time.
He ran nicely enough on debut on soft back in October, so I’m hopeful that he will put in a good performance.

Lastly, I ride Sir Rumi in the 1m2f handicap (3.55pm). This is a horse who absolutely loves testing ground. His best efforts came over 12 furlongs last year but 10 furlongs in this ground shouldn’t be an issue. He’s gone well fresh previously and should have a big chance.