Doncaster Preview: Kleo has too many gears for rivals

Kleo can take advantage of a drop in grade to get back on the winning trail in the 1m 2f handicap at Doncaster today (4.40).

The Luca Cumani trained the filly opened her account at the fourth time of asking when romping home in a maiden on the all-weather at Lingfield and looked a potentially top notch prospect when following-up on handicap debut at York.

The daughter of Kavafi travelled ominously well in the latter, and after cruising to the front a furlong home quickened clear under a hands and heels ride to slam Cosmic Halo by 3 3/4 lengths.
Connections the pitched Kleo into Listed company at Salisbury and she ran no sort of race to finish last to Lady Pimpernel.

The three-year-old was clearly amiss that day, and duly showed that running to be all wrong when a cracking fourth of 11 to Hadaatha in a Listed contest at Yarmouth last time out.

Kleo kept on well to be beaten 3 1/2 lengths, and the race has worked out extremely well with the winner going on to finish a fine third in a Group 1 contest at Longchamp and the runner-up Albasharah subsequently landing a Listed contest at Newmarket by 3 1/2 lengths.

That is extremely strong form, and makes Kleo look on a handy mark off 92 now dropped nack into handicap company given that Hadaatha is now rated 114 and Albasharah 108.

In the 6f handicap (3.30), the mud-loving Fast Shot is weighted to go well at a big price.

The Tim Easterby trained six-year-old has been better than ever this season, landing back-to-back contests at Pontefract and Ripon in April before going on to post some really solid efforts in some ultra-competitive contests.
They include a fine fifth of 27 to Louis The Pious in the Ayr Gold Cup last month on ground quicker than ideal off a mark of 96, where Fast Shot stayed on well top be beaten 3 1/2 lengths.

The son of Fasliyev then ran better than his finishing postion suggests last time out at York when ninth of 19 to Spintarix from a poor draw in stall 1.

The handicapper has since dropped Fast Shot 1lb to 95 and he is now just 2lb higher than when last successful.

That gives Fast Shot every chance from a handicapping perspective, especially with talented claimer Rachel Richardson in the saddle taking another 7lb off his back.