Designated Decoy

There was a lot to like about Designated Decoy’s performance in landing a one-mile-three-furlong contest at Dundalk on Friday night. With no apparent pace on early, Pat Smullen was happy to allow the son of Danzig stride on. He led them around the first turn and stretched them down the back straight before steadying it a little at the bottom bend and kicking off the home turn. Emmpat had enjoyed a lovely tow through the race on the rail and moved out between horses at the two-furlong pole to deliver a challenge that looked likely to succeed, but Designated Decoy battled on really well on the far side, and stuck his neck out to win by one.

It is not easy to make all on the Polytrack at Dundalk, but this was a fine display from the winner. Runner-up four times in a row last season before finally winning his maiden on his last attempt of the season over nine furlongs on heavy ground at Gowran Park in October, the son of Danzig was well fancied for the Lincoln at The Curragh off a mark of 83 on the opening day of the turf season this term, and he ran well to finish third behind Pollen. A half-brother to Noble Crusader, who won a bumper and a maiden hurdle over two and a half miles, he seemed to appreciate this step up in trip. He is also probably better suited to good ground than the ground on which he won his maiden, and he could improve again for stepping up to a mile and a half or even further, and he should go on for this now on better ground later in the season.

27^th March, 2009