Singeur

Singeur was one of the horses to take out from the Reg Griffin Memorial Trophy, a six-furlong heritage handicap, at York last Saturday. The Robin Bastiman-trained colt was drawn in stall 19, on the near side rail, which was a disadvantage on the day, but he broke well enough, travelled through the race well and was the only horse still on the bridle passing the two-furlong marker, but he had a lot of running to do to get over to the far side to challenge the leaders Iver Bridge Lad and Victoire De Lyphar. Even so, he got there and he still looked like the most likely winner going inside the final furlong until his run just petered out, understandably given the ground he had to make up.

This was probably a career best from Singeur given the amount of ground he had to make up to get over to the far side. The highly drawn horses were at a disadvantage all day and the first seven home here were all drawn lower than 10. Singeur was a really progressive two-year-old, he was a multiple winner over five furlongs before going on to be competitive in listed races and was only just beaten by a good horse in Layla’s Hero at Doncaster on his previous start. He has done okay so far this season, he pulled hard on his first two starts, the first of which was on soft ground that probably did not suit him, while on his second run he would have finished closer in a good handicap at Newmarket but he got no clear run.

The handicapper has raised him 3lb to a rating of 100, which is probably fair. A drop back down to five furlongs could suit him better, his last start was over that distance at Southwell were he finished close up, having missed the break. He is one to keep on side.

12th June 2010