BOSRA SHAM demolished her rivals at Newbury yesterday to leave jockey Pat Eddery convinced that he is set to put right a surprise omission from his Classic collection.
Unlike Alhaarth the previous day, Bosra Sham was able to live up to all the hype heaped on her shoulders, stretching clear for an impressive six-lengths defeat of Keepers Dawn in the Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes.
She is now as short as 4 to 7 (Ladbrokes) to secure the 1000 Guineas and put the seal on a memorable career for ex-champion Eddery. The performance left a jubilant Eddery to declare: "This is the best chance I've ever had for the 1000 Guineas."
Unbeaten in her two previous races last season Bosra Sham was sent off a prohibitive 2 to 9 to make a winning reappearance. Taken to the front early on, she lost the lead for a time but was back at the head of affairs with three furlongs to go and then steadily pulled clear of her toiling rivals without being asked a serious question.
Offered at a general 11 to l0 before the race, she is now odds-on with all the leading bookmakers for the Guineas, William Hill quoting 4 to 6 and Coral the most generous at 4 to 5
Bosra Sham, at 530,000 guineas the top-priced yearling sold in Europe in 1994 looks almost certain to miss the Oaks and been scratched from the betting.
Air Quest also ridden by Eddery, was quoted as short as 14 to 1 (Coral) for the Derby after a five-length victory in the Peter Smith Memorial Maiden Stakes - but trainer Roger Charlton warned he is not guaranteed to go to Epsom. Air Quest's full-brother Quest For Fame landed the corresponding event six years ago before his Derby triumph.
Air Quest quoted at 20 to 1 by William Hill and 33 to 1 by Ladbrokes for the Derby, will probably be put to the test in the Chester Vase - a race in which Quest For Fame finished second - before a decision is made about Epsom.
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