Taqdeyr

Mentioned here before as one to follow when he finished sixth in the Abu Dhabi International at Ascot at the end of July, Taqdeyr came good on his second attempt since when he landed a Class 3 conditions race at Warwick on Monday. Kicked into an early lead by Philip Robinson, he raced freely enough on front, but Robinson managed to hold onto enough to enable Taqdeyr stave off the challenge of favourite Khor Dubai inside the final furlong. He was actually going away again at the finish.

Michael Jarvis’s gelding is undoubtedly a talented performer. He didn’t settle at all behind a slow early gallop when held up in behind in a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket on his next run after Ascot, and he was much happier making the running. He seemed to be happier settling in front than he was when he raced behind horses. It also appears that he is at his best on a turning track. His four wins now have been gained on turning tracks with short home straights. His three wins before this were on all-weather surfaces, but he is just as effective on turf, it is just a turning track that he needs, and ideally a short home straight. He is in the Ayr Gold Cup, but that is on a straight track, it is usually really hard to make all or even to race handily in these big sprint handicaps, and he is probably better over seven furlongs anyway than he is over six. He should be able to go in again at this level or even slightly higher on a turning track with a short home straight.

31st August 2009

© The Irish Field, 5th September 2009