British 2yo Racing - 2015 Race Result :- 104 : Tue, May 26th - Leicester 5:00, 6f Maiden (4), "Div I"

BRITISH 2yo RACING - 2015 Season Race Result

Race 104 : Tue, May 26th
Leicester 5:00, 6f Maiden (4), "Div I"

2015 Season Home
2015 Results

[Est] is the B2yoR Rating. Green indicates a 55+ level,
Cream between 30 & 54, Pink less than 30.
Wnr = previous/LATER 2yo Winner. Letter is Race Type.
Hf = Position at Halfway. Green indicates making places to the finish.

GOING	TIME	RcPc	Video	VP
GF	71.98 [Compare]	1	Link	Link

	Horse	SP	[EST]	LB	Run	Wnr	Shp	Trainer	Dw	Hf	LBL	Run Notes
1	War Department	4.5	46.0	-	1			W. J. Haggas	1	7	3.5	Drift 7/2, BRh -2 Wdst, Drop in Rear+0.5f SNgl for 1f, TvCmf Hf, SwcR-2f, ko ins-2f HnH, Ld-1d+, PO ins-2f HnH, Stong, Smooth Mover, Cmf, BTR
2	King's Pavilion	8	32.5	4.5	1	M		M. Johnston	4	1	-1.5
3	Thaqaffa	4	19.0	9.0	2			M. P. Tregoning	3	4	2.0	Supp 6/1,
4	Opera Baron	50	9.3	12.3	2	N		S. Kirk	5	6	3.2
5	Viren's Army	2.25	1.8	14.8	1	M		R. Hannon (Jnr)	8	5	3.0	Supp 3/1,
6	Dark Crescent	5	1.6	14.8	1	N		C. B. Hills	7	3	1.7	Drift 4/1,
7	Rockliffe	6	1.5	14.9	3			M. R. Channon	6	2	1.5
8	Tamara Love	50	-15.6	18.9	1			S. C. Williams	2	9	5.5	Unst Jk PRIng
9	Birthday Bond	80	-91.5	45.9	1			G. Baker	9	8	4.5

SUMMARY

Medium to Stiff NW Wind = 1/2 Headwind from the left.

=== Pre Race ===

Breeze Video for War Department starts with long shot and already into last 2f. Looks at least medium with a strong build and balanced. Does not look fast in movement but his probably caused by him being a smooth and efficient mover so going faster than he 'looks'. Type where a time to back up, or not, the visual impression particularly useful.

=== Post Race ===

MaJo said King's Pavillion had worked with Gold Medalion after GM won Div 2. Gave impression GM works better.

====

Yet another of those early 6f events which can attract useful horses getting going early for a possible Royal Ascot run. 2014 edition a bit thin but 2013 saw Group 1 winner Toormore pull clear with useful Ertijaal. 2012 won clearly by the Coventry 5th & Group place Artigiano. 2011 won by the Coventry 3rd St Barths. Two divisions in 2010 won by duel Group winner King Torus and unplaced Coventry runner Sheer Courage. Nothing in the 2009 edition but the 2008 version won by Chesham winner Free Agent with US Grade 1 winner Donativum & US Graded winner Battle Of Hastings behind.

Faster time by 0.73s than Div II but that time only 'saved' by War Dept's strong finish. Presume the pace must have been too strong with the others, aside from winner, all fading back to various degrees by 1f+ out. Looked a strong race on profile and a bit puzzling why a number of runners ended up so far behind King's Pavilion who set a solid, but not tearway, pace and kept on ok for 2nd himself. Nothing else able to challenge that pair with Thaqaffa travelling fine to 2f out but not seeming to find much before his fade. Smaller Rockliffe strongly built but size limited among those appearing to be 'broken' by the pace and fading a log way back.

War Department expensive breeze purchase where he looked a smooth & efficient mover. Solid medium+ size in the group but the strongest build and most powerful. Neatly put together. A bit green in the race but going best by halfway. Godd effort at 2f out to get to the lead by 1f out without looking star quality. But, to use the cliche, looked better the longer the race went on. Going clear in the last 1f still looking smotth and in control and visibly more powerful now than the fading rivals. Strength of finish looked 'different' and a Coventry 3rd-5th type in a normal year.

Haggas interviewed after the race and thought War Dept would go to Royal Ascot. Noting that the owner - Bill Gredley - was 82 so now a good time to get the RA winner nailed. Clearly expected a good run. He noted that he had brough a good one to this race in 2013 (Ertijaal) but had been 'nutted' by the Champion 2yo (Toormore) as an example of trainers do target periods of ech season and certain races.

Still a bit baffling the gaps back which seemed more than just WDept being superior. Only King's Pavilion running a real 'race' and looking an 80s one. Hannon and owners MPRacing won the race in 2013 with Toormore & Viren's Army seemed, like Haggas, another eg of targetting a particular ace. VA's picture on the MPR website making him look strongly made but perhaps a bit smaller medium to limit him. That seemed the case here with Hughes looking a bit 'big' on him. Looking lighter made and fitter on debut than a typical Hannon good one. Clearly did not run as expected and niggled along by Halway and fully driven along soon after but not picking up much. Hughes thinking about the whip by refraining and had given up and started to ease a touch before 1f out.