Anglezarke

Anglezarke ran a cracker to finish third in the King’s Stand Stakes, also on Tuesday. They were always going too fast for her over this five-furlong trip, even her rivals on the near side, despite the fact that the far side ground went even faster through the early stages. David Allan was encouraging the Acclamation filly along before they had gone a furlong, and he didn’t stop riding her the whole way. When they passed the three-furlong pole he was positively in the drive position, looking for racing room.

Anglezarke took a fairly hefty bump from the South African horse Mythical Flight as that one dropped back, yet she still had the strength to engineer racing room for herself and get out after the leaders. By the time she did, however, they had passed the furlong pole and Scenic Blast had gone into an unassailable lead on the far side. Nevertheless, Anglezarke kept on really well to snatch third place on the line.

It is probable that the near rail, where Anglezarke raced, was the place to be even on Tuesday, and that she may have benefited accordingly. Even so, this was a fine performance for a three-year-old filly in amongst monstrous colts and geldings from all over the world, all the more meritorious given that she may have been racing over an inadequate distance. Admittedly, all of her three wins have been gained over the minimum distance, but she gave the impression when she finished well to take second place in the listed race won by Ialysos at Haydock last time that she might benefit from a step up in trip again. She has failed on both of her tries at six furlongs, but both of those were last year, when she was a juvenile, and she is worth another try at the distance now as a three-year-old. She would be of interest if she lined up in the July Cup.

© The Irish Field, 20th June 2009