Amour Propre

It is uncanny how Henry Candy can uncover these three-year-old sprinters, given how difficult it is traditionally for three-year-olds to compete against the top older sprinters. Kyllachy was a really good sprinter at three, even though he didn’t gain his Group 1 win until he was four, Airwave was just beaten a half a length by Choisir in the Golden Jubilee at three and Corrybrough was only beaten a length by African Rose in the Ladbroke Sprint Cup last year at three. Now Candy has another one in Amour Propre.

The son of Paris House, a 1,500gns yearling, was most progressive last season as a juvenile, winning his last three of four races and culminating in victory in the Group 3 Cornwalis Stakes at Ascot in October. His debut this season, in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket last Saturday, was another step forward on that. He travelled well throughout and showed a really impressive turn of foot to go clear of high class sprinters Hoh Hoh Hoh and Borderlescott, the latter a Group 1 winner who got into this Group 3 contest without a penalty.

This was just the fifth start of Amour Propre’s life and he should improve again for it. Henry Candy has the Temple Stakes at Haydock on 23rd May on his radar now, followed possibly by the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has never been beyond five furlongs, and he doesn’t need to go up in distance for now. He has so much speed that he has to be a candidate for some of the top sprints this season.

2nd May 2009