Goodwood - 3:45 (30 July 2005)
6f - Vodafone Stewards' Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 3yo+
Course Description
A right-handed track with severe undulations. Unsuited to the big long striding animal. Small, handy types, who can keep good balance galloping downhill, have the advantage.
Effect of the Draw
A high draw is generally an advantage on fast ground. Low on soft ground. Hold up horses and those draw in the middle need not apply!
Analysis
Time to declare a fairly large interest in Gift Horse (3 points).
Market moves for the front two in the market given trainer and draw should ensure value elsewhere but riddle me this?
If you were the son of Dandy Nicholls why would you give up the rides on Lafi or Gift Horse? Adrian Nicholls possibly had first selection and went for Merlin’s Dancer (½ point win). A course and distance winner he is well drawn in stall 27 and has the pace profile to be “in the van” near the finish and will form my two against the field.
posted by Slipperytoad @ 7/30/2005 08:39:00 am
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Team Nicholls combined to land this big handicap as Merlin's Dancer made sure the inside-rail pack was drawn along much faster than the stands' side 13, who consequently failed to figure, with One Putra, clear-cut winner of the stands' side group after always travelling best there, managing only sixth place, beaten nearly four lengths.
GIFT HORSE, laid out for the race after his win at Epsom on Derby Day, looks a rapidly improving sprinter at the age of five, as this was only his fourth race overthe trip. His defeat came behind Soldier's Tale under similar conditions at York, but he overturned that form with runner-up Fonthill Road on worse terms. It looked as if David Nicholls had given team orders, as both Lafi and Gift Horse sat off the paceset by Merlin's Dancer, with stablemate Pieter Brueghel backing it up.
Gift Horse would have been an unlucky loser, as he was badly hampered when Caribbean Coral hung left into the final two furlongs and he had plenty of ground to make up on Fonthill Road, who had run his usual race, being pushed along to keep in touch alongside the winner at the back before a long, strong run took him into what looked a winning lead halfway through the final furlong before Gift Horse struck. The winner holds Group 1 entries in the Nunthorpe and Haydock Sprint Cup but with this narrow success, the assessor is hardly able to remove him from handicap consideration, so it will be interesting to see where connections choose next.
The ground looks important to Fonthill Road, who has excelled when getting some cut, although his rock-solid form is confirmed by his steady rise through the weights. He looks just the sort for the Ayr Gold Cup if the ground is at its seasonal soft.
Fantasy Believer, second last year off the same mark, ran to that form and as he was also second in the Ayr Gold Cup there are no guesses on where he will end up.
Merlin's Dancer, winner of the consolation Stewards' sprint last year, again showed his liking for the track and,after blazing fully two lengths clear of his side early, did amazingly well to keep on for fourth just ahead of the closing pack, although he had the help of the fresher strip up the inside rail, as did Out After Dark, who plugged on there for fifth.
One Putra is off a pound lower mark after this, having been raised into three figures, and the three-year-old ran a cracker. The result does not do him justice and he is an emerging sprinter.
Lafi was disappointing for an in-form sprinter but again looked uneasy on the softer ground, having improved on a sound surface in recent weeks. He was lugging right despite having the rail to race against in the early stages and while he did close steadily from as bad a position as his winning stablemate, he did not pick up with his usual zest. He goes up 12lb for future races, so handicaps are out and he is going to struggle, although he could leave this form behind back on fast ground.
Moayed ran an amazing race, giving away five lengths at the start and trailing the inside-rail group, then flying home on the outside of the group without being able to land a blow. Better known as an all-weather horse, he likes to get his toe in on turf and was not disgraced in the Bunbury Cup recently. He is3lb lower now and could land a big win either at six or seven furlongs on easier ground.
Rising Shadow was another to make late headway without getting into the race, but Partners In Jazz did not shine, being ridden more prominently than usual.
Fruit Of Glory was the other one travelling conspicuously well in the stands' side group into the final two furlongs and she kept on well enough to finish second on that side. She remains in good form but is rising in the handicap.
Hidden Dragon had every chance on the stands' side, but both Mecca's Mate and Presto Shinko came from unpromising positions. Mecca's Mate had to wait for a run through against the stands' rail and then wanted to hang right, but she kept creeping closer. She goes up dramatically for future races and is going to be difficult to place, as her King George effort suggested.
Presto Shinko looked to be struggling on the loose ground rather than being outpaced behind a wall of horses at the back of the stands' group. But, switched wider to see daylight, he stayed on takingly.
Halmahera held a midpack pitch on the inside before being badly squeezed out midrace, so his worst finish in the race should not be taken as an indication that he is over the hill at ten. He looked well and should not be written off for any Doncaster date.
Caribbean Coral was squeezed out early and then got lit up before edging left when weakening.
Am Brose got no run on the stands' side, rearing as the stalls opened, which left him last on the stands' rail and he saw little running room throughout.
*David Nicholls reported that the race may have come too soon for Lafi. [BJ]
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