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Stevie Thunder needs to show a lightning turn of foot
STEVIE THUNDER (3.00) bids to
improve an already excellent
strike-rate by winning Redcar's
Straight-Mile Championship
Qualifier.
The drinks will once again be
on Alan Swinbank's money-spinner
if, as expected, he makes it
three wins from five starts in the
Boddington's sponsored feature.
Stevie Wonder started life by
snapping up a lowly Musselburgh
seller, but has since improved
markedly when scoring in
much better company on his return
to the same track.
Like so many of the stable's inmates
the selection is progressing
very nicely with experience
and although likely to start at a
short price, looks a real banker
bet.
Ten wins, ten seconds and 11
thirds represents a wonderful career
haul for Efidium, an evergreen
veteran of 114 outings to
date. It's quite sad to see him
being dropped in class to compete
for dreadfully poor prize
money in the Racing UK Selling
Stakes, however his advancing
years leave little alternative.
There is a possibility that time
has caught up with Efidium, who
might still have enough spring in
his step to beat off a modest field.
Mark Johnston is at it again,
entering two good horses in the
same race, Tajweed (4.30) and
Casa Catalina, both of whom run
in the mile-and-a quarter Tees
Valley Handicap.
Casa Catalina seemed more of
a sprinter when winning at
Thirsk last season, so the nod
goes to Tajweed, who is a lovely,
big, scopey middle-distance type.
After hacking up first time out
as a juvenile in 2007, Regal Step
(5.30) was then sent straight to
Royal Ascot for a crack at the
Group 2 Queen Anne Stakes.
In the event Robert Cowell's
filly could never land a blow at
the leaders, neither could she get
involved when fifth in a Listed
race on her only other spin last
year.
Now back to a far more realistic
level in the closing August Fillies'
Handicap, Regal Step might
just be different gear to her rivals
in the five-furlong dash.
There is not a great deal to
shout about on the National
Hunt front, with the possible exception
of Hereford's two-milethree-
furlong £7,000 Butty Bach
Beginners' Chase.
There's no question it's quite
good mid-week cash and hence
Alan King has targeted Oh Crick
(2.40) at the race, which will be
his first time in a steeplechase.
Course experience is vital
since it's a very sharp track,
something Oh Crick has proved
he can deal with having won in a
fast time over hurdles at the
venue earlier in the season.
■ Today's fixture at Redcar is
subject to the course passing an
inspection at 7.30am.
9:52am Thursday 1st May 2008
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