Light From Mars

Light From Mars put up a nice performance to win a good seven-furlong handicap at York on Saturday. Settled just behind the front rank off a suitably fast pace, he made nice progress under James Millman to join in the front rank at the two-furlong pole. It looked as if Everymanforhimself was travelling better on the far side at that point, but this trip is a minimum for Light From Mars, all three of his wins before Saturday were over a mile, and he powered through the final furlong to win, going away, by two and a half lengths from Everymanforhimself, with the useful Webbow finishing well to take third and good yardstick Dhaular Dhar back in fourth.

It looked like Rod Millman’s gelding was facing a tough task on Saturday off a mark of 94, a career-high, but he was well fancied and well backed, he is obviously in good form at home, and the fast early pace suited him well. He was well able to lie up with the pace, he travelled well, and he picked up nicely inside the final two furlongs. He has run 13 times, but he is improving now, this was a career best, and it may be that he is even better over a fast-run seven furlongs than he is over a mile. The handicapper will have his say now, he can expect a few more pounds for this, but he can go on again from this, and he will be of interest if he is turned out again over seven furlongs before the end of the season, as long as it looks like there will be plenty of pace on early.

10th October 2009