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Sandown Park 3:20, 7.1f Maiden (5) |
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| Horse | SP | [EST] | LB | Run | Wnr | Shp | Trainer | Dw | Hf | LBL | Run Notes | ||||
| 1 | Miniaturist | 4.5 | 30.0 | - | 4 | M. Johnston | 5 | -1.0 | Supp 5/1, | ||||||
| 2 | Taqwaa | 3 | 27.5 | 1.3 | 2 | M | R. Hannon (Jnr) | 7 | 1.0 | Supp 10/3, | |||||
| 3 | Cartago | 1.1 | 23.5 | 3.3 | 2 | N | J. H. M. Gosden | 1 | 3.5 | Drift 1/1, | |||||
| 4 | Bergholt | 33 | 23.3 | 3.4 | 1 | P. E. Hide | 3 | 2.0 | |||||||
| 5 | Viscount Barfield | 7 | 17.3 | 6.3 | 2 | A. M. Balding | 6 | 3.0 | Supp 0/1, | ||||||
| 6 | Recognition | 16 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 1 | Roger Varian | 4 | 5.2 | Supp 20/1, | ||||||
| NR | Goldenfield | O. Stevens | 2 | NR = Going. Declared 09:17am. | |||||||||||
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GFG in early am from GGF on Decs. 3mm Wtaering on HS late Thursday. CoC quote = "Round Course dolled out 3 to 4 yards from 1m to winning post, adding 7 yards to all distances". Medium+ Easterly Wind = 1/2 Tailwind. === Pre Race === Bergholt another expensive Breeze buy to debut at 7f. Breeze Video starts with the long-shot and just inside last 2f. Soild medium size with IP body length. Typical neat sire type but a but bigger. Moves straight and uses his range and a correct mover. Average or a bit above cadence. Finishes the breeze off. Mosty positive but does he have the size/length to make 100k seem value? Looking at Trainer Varian's season so far it seems to be Typical in some senses but he has not had a better class 5-6f type who could win earlier season and probably on debut. He has had his first 2 wins of the season in the last week which is probably a typical time for his main stable to come into 'full form'. But, he has had zero of the 90+ types who can win FTO in April/May and a number in previous years have gone on to be Listed+ winners. Just lacking any of those type this year? Recognition one of 3 x expensively acquired 2yos he has had entered over the last 2 days in increase the impression of he is now getting into full swing. One of those 3 x FTOs was at 6f (others at 7f) by Plantation but he was an NR on Thu at NWBY. In 215 Varian said he hoped Plantation would be running by May. Any 'better' types at 5-6f been delayed this year? === Post Race === Regular readers will know that the 7.1f distance at this course fascinates B2yoR for the narrow set of Run Styles than can be successful here. The short run to a long but tight bend means if you get into the Leading Pair the rest of the field will get strung out in pair behind you (or run too wide in 3s or 4s) and be so far back that they will have to be of very superior ability to your horse to get it back. If you go at a usable pace. With Cartago flopping out of the stalls next to the rail and ending up in the 3R you could chuck your (overbet) ticket in the bin after 1f was run. With Miniaturist getting to the lead on the rail attended by Taqwaa one of them would win. Unless Cartago was 'Time Test', which he isn't. Not sure he would have beaten the first 2 home if he had been 2nd 1 wide through halfway. Took him forever to get past Bergholt & Viscount Barfield from an evenish start 2f out and Cartago and that pair looking smaller ones than the first pair home anyway. While going to the lead may lose some races for Johnston 2yos over a season it must pay divendends overall when you watch races like this and Whitman's the previous evening. Loose on the lead with a usable pace and then try hard. On a day with firm ground and a tail wind telling your jk to try to get front rank in the BS should have been compulsory. Taqwaa head to the left a bit and not picking up as fully as Miniaturist in the last 2f and losing 1L+ until seeming to get more organised late on and clawing a little back. Taqwaa looking an ok one for 8f & ok scope. While going forward to lead or run prominently may lose some winnable races for MaJo at times the overall return must be positive. Given that 2yo races are predominently won by promineht racers. Particularly on faster going and 5-6f. Watch this race and the win by Whitman the previous evening and you have to do some extra thinking to assess whether the best horse won. Because both got loose on the lead they had a big advantage. MaJo himself often says his 2yos do less well on Soft going and presumably some of that pressing on too much in testing conditions. Whatever, Spencer isn't going to get many rides for the stable since he feels physically ill and giddy if he is in the 1st 3 at halfway or can see some clear daylight. Some MaJo Run Style figures compared to Hannon :- Halfway Positions of 135 MaJo 2yos vs 141 Hannon 2yos = Led at Halfway = 37% (40% SR) vs 14% (25% SR) In 1st 3 at Halfway = 70% vs 46% |