SANDOWN (30 May 2006)

Soft

7:15 betfair.com Temple Stakes (Group 2) (class 1) (3yo+)

[off 7:18] £51,102.00, £19,368.00, £9,693.00, £4,833.00, £2,421.00, £1,215.00 (5f6y) 5f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Reverence (13) E J Alston 5 9-4 K Darley 9/4F 108 104 117

2 1¼ The Trader (IRE) (7) M Blanshard 8 9-8 b Ted Durcan 33/1 110 104 117

3 ¾ Mecca´s Mate (10) D W Barker 5 9-1 M J Kinane 20/1 101 94 107

4 ½ Orientor (12) J S Goldie 8 9-4 Jamie Spencer 7/1 100 95 109

5 nk Eisteddfod (9) P F I Cole 5 9-4 Jimmy Fortune 8/1 110 94 108

6 1½ Indian Maiden (IRE) (11) M S Saunders 6 9-1 Francis Norton 12/1 104 85 100+

7 2 Out After Dark (1) C G Cox 5 9-4 b Adam Kirby 20/1 104 81 96

8 1¼ Les Arcs (USA) (4) T J Pitt 6 9-4 John Egan 6/1 111 76 92

9 nk The Tatling (IRE) (3) J M Bradley 9 9-4 Ryan Moore 10/1 113 75 91

10 3 Balmont (USA) (8) J Noseda 5 9-4 Shane Kelly 12/1 110 63 80

11 6 Resplendent Glory (IRE) (6) T G Mills 4 9-4 Ian Mongan 12/1 110 39 60

12 11 Godfrey Street (2) R Hannon 3 9-0 Richard Hughes 33/1 107 — 27

12 ran TIME 1m 2.10s (slow by 1.60s) TOTAL SP 116%

NON RUNNER: First Order

1st OWNER: Mr & Mrs G Middlebrook BRED: G And Mrs Middlebrook TRAINER: E J Alston

2nd OWNER: Mrs C J Ward

3rd OWNER: David T J Metcalfe

TOTE WIN £3.30 PL £1.50, £8.60, £4.90; Ex £118.50; CSF £99.97

ANALYSIS: This looked about as competitive as usual, but it was decidedly short of young, up-and-coming sprinters and the field comprised largely of the usual suspects. The draw usually plays a big part in sprints here, but while the winner came from 13 of 13 it didn't appear to make that much difference.

In fairness, though REVERENCE is five now he is still on the upgrade. Besides being drawn against the rail, he had his favoured soft ground after his Palace House fourth on much quicker going, and having raced in the first three throughout he was in charge from over a furlong out and always holding on. He goes for the King's Stand now, and his trainer is not too worried about faster ground.

The Trader is a hard horse to pin down, but he was back to form here. When he found his stride, having been switched sharply from the back of the field to the wide outside over a furlong from home, he picked up so well that it looked for a moment as if he might trouble the winner. He too is likely to run in the King's Stand (the Golden Jubilee is the alternative) and he will be better off there with Reverence, as he is about to lose the penalty he was giving away here. He is hard to predict, but he couldn't be ruled out.

Mecca's Mate left her York reappearance behind and went second over a furlong out. She is running into form and could make a quick reappearance in the Dash at Epsom on Saturday if there is give underfoot.

Orientor, second here a year ago, chased the winner up the rail but was never going well enough. His losing run stretches back nearly two years now.

Eisteddfod ran respectably, and so did Indian Maiden, who was short of room approaching the furlong marker, though it didn't make that much difference.

Out After Darkwas up against it in this company and was obliged to race wide from stall one.

Les Arcs helped force the early pace but gradually dropped back and John Egan reported he lost his action. This was his first disappointing effort in a cracking season.

The Tatling ran out of room when making headway at around the furlong pole. He would have been closer, but he wouldn't have troubled the principals.

Balmont, third last year, was returning from a long absence and is not at his best on this sort of ground. He can improve on this.

Resplendent Glory, back from injury, weakened very quickly after showing good speed from a slowish start. Something was probably amiss, as he was dismounted after he had been pulled up.

Godfrey Street,the only three-year-old in the field, was soon struggling on the outside.