Invisible Man

Invisible Man stayed on really well to land the one-mile Class 3 three-year-old handicap at Newmarket on Saturday. Travelling really well in the early stages, he got a little outpaced two furlongs out when Sovereign Remedy and Resort went toe to toe up front. It looked as if that pair had it between them a furlong out, but Invisible Man was gradually getting into gear and, once he did, he stayed on really well up the hill to win going away. The fast early pace obviously suited him, and he may have been a little flattered by the visual impression of this, but it was still a fine performance.

The son of Elusive Quality had been ridden handily in all of his recent races. He made all to land his maiden at Newmarket in May, and he had been ridden aggressively in both of his races in the interim, in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, and again over seven furlongs back at Ascot in a hot handicap in which Secret Society beat Suruor. He seemed to appreciate the hold up tactics, and he responded well, picking up well up the rising ground and catching and passing horses. The handicapper has raised him 5lb for this, but this was a decent performance against decent opposition, it was just his seventh ever race, and he should progress again now that he has shown that he enjoys being held up. A fast-run mile appears to be him optimum, ideally on a track with a stiff finish, like either of the Newmarket tracks, where he has recorded both of his victories to date.

25th July 2009