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May 9th SUMMING UP
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Cav Okay made a big impression on debut when bursting from the stalls
and setting up a big lead early. He showed natural speed on fast going
and with his short neck allowing him to set up a metronomic, balanced rhythm
with his fast stride. If he can reproduce that form he should be too good
for the others. Then, for the second year in succession, the race could
have longer term significance after runner-up Strike Up The Band's Group
success in 2005 (rather than being the 'cup final' for a set of early season
types with no improvement left).
It is worth mentioning a few niggles about Cav Okay. The first is that
he looked like a faster ground mover at Newbury and if it comes up slower
on the day it may well blunt his speed and test his stamina. On debut he
did fade a little in the last half furlong but that is counteracted by
the fact he was running for a trainer who does not have his juveniles primed
for FTO. The final point is that the runners he left behind at Newbury
have looked moderate types in subsequent runs - See In the Dark looked
an ordinary maiden type when beaten at Folkestone and The Illies ran moderately
at Newmarket.
Of interest is why Cav Okay is here at all? The trainer rarely uses this
race despite it's position as early season championship. He tends to target
the Conditions race at Windsor in mid-May or the National Stakes at Sandwon
at the end of the month for his best early 2yos. His only runner in the
last four seasons was the flawed Signor Panettiere who got his brains fried
by RL Moore at Newmarket (including a 10.5 second mid race furlong) on
his previous outing and blew up in this event when taken on for the lead.
If Cav Okay isn't the horse he looks to be then we have a close race between
three solid citizens of which preference would be for Lord Charles. However,
all three and especially Hucking Hill, do not look to have the pace of
Cav Okay and would be winning by reeling him in in the last furlong.
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