Braveheart Move

There was a lot to like about Braveheart Move’s performance in landing the 12-furlong handicap at Chester on Wednesday. In fairness, he did enjoy the run of the race. Frankie Dettori set a moderate pace on Quai D’Orsay and Stephen Donohoe adopted the box seat in behind him on the rail. Dettori didn’t quicken the pace until they were almost on the crown of the home turn, just as Donohoe went to pull Braveheart Move around to challenge. In that manoeuvre, Dettori sprang at least two lengths clear, a distance that is difficult to redress in Chester’s short home straight on fast ground, but Braveheart Move picked up nicely. He didn’t show a sparkling turn of foot, but he ground his way down the outside, ground his rival down, and moved in front to land the spoils by a half a length.

This was the Moyglare Stud colt’s seasonal debut, just the third run of his life and his first since he won a Class 5 maiden at Wolverhampton last September over seven furlongs. He saw out this 12-and-a-half-furlong trip well (he is by Cape Cross out of a stoutly-bred mare – could this be an encouraging sign for Sea The Stars’s prospects of staying the Derby distance?), and he gave the impression that he will get further. He is trained by Sir Mark Prescott, so it would be hugely surprising if he did not progress with racing throughout the season, and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that he could be a St Leger contender by the time September rolls around.

6th May 2009