Mister Monet to make the right impression

13 April 2012

The old saying dictates that money goes to money. But the money can go to Monet on Champions Day, as Mister Monet looks a very solid each-way bet for the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

Newmarket's autumn showpiece hasn't always lived up to its name, but with £350,000 in the pot tomorrow's renewal looks well up to scratch.

And the leading contenders divide neatly into those who line up on the back of a career best effort and those who failed to shine last time out.

Doyen heads the parade of those who flopped last time. Frankie Dettori's mount looked a world beater when bounding away with the King George at Ascot in July, but he clearly has questions to answer after beating only his pacemaker home in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Haafhd is another who comes into the race under a cloud, following his 2,000 Guineas win with two lacklustre efforts, while Norse Dancer has had umpteen chances at Group 1 level and hardly looked poised to break his duck when returning to his old sulky ways behind Rakti at Ascot last time.

Now to the horses with fewer doubts about their current form.

Azamour has headed the market all week based on his last-to-first swoop in the Irish Champion, but the 11-4 looked short enough even before the heavy rain came to worry his connections yesterday.

Refuse To Bend is a proven Group 1 performer who provides Godolphin with a strong second string to Doyen, while Lucky Story ran the race of his life to chase home Rakti in the QEII and should have no problem handling this extra two furlongs.

Tomorrow's race carries an intriguing sub-plot for Lucky Story, who will race in new colours after it emerged that one of the Dubai-based Buhaleeba brothers has allegedly run into a very tight spot due to his high-rolling activities in London casinos. With that in mind it's ironic that his stablemate Mister Monet is owned by a syndicate of leading bookmakers, but this fast-improving colt has a great deal more than just coincidence on his side.

Mark Johnston was baffled when Mister Monet failed to figure in the Classic markets last winter and frustrated when a leg injury denied him the chance to show what he could do in the spring.

However, Mister Monet is making up for lost time with a vengeance now and followed his impressive success in a Group 3 at Haydock by making mincemeat of a subsequent Pattern winner in a Group 2 at Deauville eight weeks ago The ground at Deauville was very testing, so further rain wouldn't trouble Mister Monet in the slightest. His strong galloping style looks ideal for tomorrow's conditions, and at 11-2 or thereabouts he should be very hard to keep out of the first three.

Tomorrow could be a massive day for the Johnston yard, as Shamardal looks to have an excellent chance in a compelling Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

Etlaala looks a worthy rival following his impressive defeat of Iceman in Doncaster's Champagne Stakes, while Perfectperformance and Oratorio are both battle hardened after proving their worth in some of the very best juvenile races this autumn.

But Shamardal, who also raced in the Buhaleeba colours until the Maktoum family called to collect early this week, looks the one to be on. Johnston has always maintained that Shamardal was a potential Group 1 winner and a crushing defeat of the smart Wilko in Group 2 company at Goodwood in July backed his opinion up in tremendous style.

Like the unfortunate Mr Buhaleeba, this powerful Giant's Causeway colt brings a great deal to the table.

But unlike his hapless former owner, Shamardal looks capable of leaving it carrying a lot more than he started with.

Tomorrow's Newmarket big-race tips: 3.25, Mister Monet; 4.00, Shamardal.

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