Markab

Markab put up a career-best performance to finish second to Equiano the Kings Stand Stakes at Ascot on Tuesday. He broke well and raced prominently in the group that raced towards the centre of the track, always just a length behind Equiano who led the entire field from the stands rail. Henry Candy’s gelding did pick up well, he just did not have the speed to get to Equiano, but he still kept on well to the line.

This was a really good effort from Markab, he was probably at a disadvantage by racing towards the centre of the track, all week it seemed to be the slowest part of the track based on going stick readings and on how the races on the straight track panned out. Markab has really stepped up this season, he won his first Group race when impressively taking the Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh last month, but he improved again here and had a lot of top class sprinters in behind him, the likes of Borderlescott, Kingsgate Native and the Australian sprinter Nicconi. This was his first race in Group 1 company, and it was actually his first race over five furlongs and he handled the extra premium that the minimum distance placed on speed well. Even so, he still may be better over six. The Prix Maurice De Gheest at Deauville is possibly his next target, that race is run over an extended six furlongs which should play to his strengths. He is progressive now, and he will go there with an obvious chance.

12th June 2010