British 2yo Racing - 2015 Race Result :- 254 : Fri, July 3rd - Sandown Park 2:50, 5f Listed (1), "Dragon Stakes"

BRITISH 2yo RACING - 2015 Season Race Result

Race 254 : Fri, July 3rd
Sandown Park 2:50, 5f Listed (1), "Dragon Stakes"

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
GFG	60.35 [Compare]	1	Link	Link

	Horse	SP	[EST]	LB	Run	Wnr	Trainer	Dw	Hf	LBL	Run Notes
1	Riflescope	2.25	45.0	-	5	m	M. Johnston	4	3	1.5	Supp 5/2,
2	Ejaazah	10	37.0	1.0	3	m	R. Hannon (Jnr)	6	2	0.1	Drift 7/1,
3	Soapy Aitken	0.66	36.8	2.8	4	v	C. G. Cox	1	4	1.7	Supp 8/11,
4	Barbarous Relic	16	34.5	3.5	3	m	K. R. Burke	3	5	4.0	, WTRB = Trnr's rep said Hrs unsuited to GFG
5	Halsall	33	24.8	6.8	5	a	D. O'Meara	5	1	-0.1	Drift 25/1,
NR	Promised Money						E. Lynam	2			NR = Vet's Cert (High Temperature). Declared 14:28pm the Previous Day.

SUMMARY

GFG in early am from GGF on Decs. GStick reading for Sprint Course 0.6 softer than for Round course. Watering as 2.5mm early on the Race Day.

Rail Out by 3yds.

Medium+ Easterly Wind = 3/4 Tailwind.

=== Post Race ===

Fast Time but notably Fast conditions with an unusual Tailwind. In previous 3yo handicape an OR72 rated MaJo runner ran 59.57s carrying 12lbs less than Riflescope. Just an average edition of the race off a usable Pace. Halsall & Ejaazah both going forward from the widest draws to make up the Leading Pair and setting a pace that Ejaazah could almost finish the whole race off despite breaking left wide from the widest stall and having to make an effort to get to the front pair 1 off the rail. This definitely not one of those 5f events at the track where the pace collapses and Deep Closer can win. Barborous Relic (lacking build in the group) able to do only some minor closing very latre on having been held at the back.

The crux of the race seemed to be what happened in the middle 1f of the race. With the Leading Pair not looking likely to fold jk Doyle on Riflescope already edging out from 2R & 1 off the rail by Halfway to get a clear run at overhauling whatever efforts the Leading Pair could make. Riflescope having to be driven along just before 2f out as if taking time to get organised. Riflescope starting the last 2f with about 1L to get back on Ejaazah and barely cut into that lead with 1f still to go. Eventually outlasted her as she stalled and faded late in the last 0.5f. About what you would expect given their relative profiles coming into the race and how they made their way through the race.

The question is then over what happened to Soapy Aitken who performed below expectations? Trapped on the rail behind the leading pair the jk did the right thing and started edging away from the rail around Halfway and trying to follow Riflescope's move to get out and a clear run. Coming to 2f out SA travelling better than Riflescope (driven along briefly) but trapped behind Ejaazah & looking like a candidate for a clip heels stumble. SA didn't seem to clip heels but once he got out with Riflescope gone for 1L+ he seemed to take time to pick up and lost another 1L+. A difficult task then to claw that back off rivals still going forward, but, even with that caveat it looked like the horse was either thinking or feeling something. SA's head in the air and ears spread and no reaction to the jk getting busy with the whip. Just on his posture you might suggest he was feeling something in his lower back. Whatever, he didn't show the zip he should have done by at least 1-2L.

SA less well built than Riflescope (who is a short one but bulking up like a mildly wealthy man's Russian Valour (MaJo's 550kg 'Big Daddy' 2yo)). SA perhaps just running here as his lack of power would predict? Check for WTRB report and also check his previous runs to see if the head up, ears spread, posture is new for this race.