Turf Talk: Desert Wind whistling up a hat-trick storm at Wolverhampton

Trainer Marco Botti. PIC: Adam Davy/PA Wire

Ed Vaughan’s charge was well-beaten on his racecourse debut at Nottingham in the autumn, but shaped significantly better when switching to the all-weather at Southwell a few weeks later, coming home nicely to finish third behind a very useful operator in Epsom Derby entrant On The Warpath.

Despite that promising effort, it was still surprising to see him blitz his rivals when opening his account over this course and distance shortly after the turn of the year and while the winning distance was not as far, there was just as much authority about his latest triumph at Lingfield.

Desert Wind must concede at least 8lb to each of his rivals for his latest assignment, but one of the newcomers will have to be well above average to stop him going in again.

Regina Nostra can make it third time lucky in the first division of the 32Red.com Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

The well-related daughter of Pivotal looked in need of the experience on her introduction at Chelmsford, but still ran with some encouragement to place third.

She occupied the same finishing position on her latest start at Newcastle, but it was a step forward as she was beaten little over a length and may well have finished closer but for being impeded by the eventual winner inside the last of six furlongs.

On both of her starts Regina Nostra has appeared to lack a gear when required, so the step up to seven furlongs should see her in a better light.

Sweet Symphony has done enough to suggest she can win a race, and her latest opportunity comes in division two of the 32Red.com Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Marco Botti’s charge is bidding to strike at the fourth attempt and the return to seven furlongs can only boost her chances of success.

TURF TALK TIPS

TAUNTON: 2.10 Shoal Bay, 2.40 Chilli Filli, 3.10 Hey Bill, 3.45 Unison, 4.15 Myroundorurs, 4.50 Hepburn.

WETHERBY: 2.00 Derrynane, 2.30 Massini’s Lady, 3.00 Lisdoonvarna Lad, 3.35 Clan Legend, 4.05 Flemenskill, 4.40 Bassarabad, 5.10 Maebh.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 5.40 Compatriot, 6.10 Dor’s Law, 6.40 DESERT WIND (NAP), 7.10 Something Lucky, 7.40 Regina Nostra (next best), 8.10 Sweet Symphony, 8.40 Zefferino.