All eyes will be on the sprinters as Haydock Park stages the Temple Stakes in May. A Group Two contest run over 5f, it's a race that often attracts the some of the best speedsters around.
Here at RACING AHEAD we take a look back at recent winners and highlights the key trends to take into the 2021 renewal – this year run on Saturday 22nd May 2021 – did you know that 7 of the last 11 winners came from stalls 6 or lower, while 15 of the last 18 successful horses were aged 5 or younger.
Recent Temple Stakes Winners
2020 – No Race
2019 – BATTAASH (5/6 fav)
2018 – BATTAASH (10/11 fav)
2017 – PRICELESS (11/2)
2016 – PROFITABLE (8/1)
2015 – PEARL SECRET (10/1)
2014 – HOT STREAK (9/4 fav)
2013 – KINGSGATE NATIVE (14/1)
2012 – BATED BREATH (2/1 fav)
2011 – SOLE POWER (8/1)
2010 – KINGSGATE NATIVE (3/1 jfav)
2009 – LOOK BUSY (15/2)
2008 – FLEETING SPIRIT (7/2)
2007 – SIERRA VISTA (5/1)
2006 – REVERENCE (9/4 fav)
2005 – CELTIC MILL (16/1)
Temple Stakes Betting Trends
17/18 – Trained in the UK
16/18 – Had won over 5f before
15/18 – Won by a horse aged 5 or younger
12/18 – Raced within the last 2 months
11/18 – Placed third or better last time out
11/18 – Favourites that were placed
11/18 – Had won a Group race before
9/18 – Raced at Newmarket last time out
7/18 – Winning favourites
5/18 – Won their latest race
2/18 – Owned by Qatar Racing (2 of last 6 runnings)
2/18 – Trained by Clive Cox (2 of last 4 runnings)
2/18 – Trained by Charles Hills (last 2 runnings)
2/18 – Trained by Henry Candy
2/18 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
2/18 – Ridden by Adam Kirby (2 of last 4 runnings)
The average winning SP in the last 15 years is 6/1
7 of the last 11 winners came from stalls 6 or lower
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: No Battaash this season, who has won the last two runnings of this race. Que Amoro is the top-rated in the field (112) and has a good record fresh so is certainly a big player here. But the unknown is the ground with her as all her runs have been on much quicker ground. Both Jabbarockie and Declaring Love head here on three timers so are clearly in great form, but this is a step up and they both have a bit to find on these level-weights terms. But I think the John Quinn pair – Look Busy and LIBERTY BEACH – might be the ones to focus on. They are both rated 109, so there is nothing between them and the pair also both have decent form at this level. Look Busy will have Oisin Murphy riding too and has winning form with cut. The only niggle with her, for me, is that he's often taken a few races each season to get going, so even though he's a course winner, the 230-day break is a small worry. In contrast, Liberty Beach, who is another course winner, has a good record off a break, winning first time out for the last two seasons. He's gone well in soft ground too and we know he stays a bit further than this 5f trip too, which will help in conditions.
