Reflections

By Rory King

Astrophysical Jet

Judged by her run in the 0-95 five furlong handicap on Thursday at Newmarket, Astrophysical Jet is very much a horse to follow. Settled just in behind the leaders, she quickened clear very impressively as the pace setters started to tire and bounded home to win with a fair amount in hand. Previously she had been too prominent in the Reg Griffin Memorial Trophy at York over six furlongs where she tired badly in the last hundred yards or so and being ridden with more restraint here was clearly the key. Although her official rating of 93 will rise considerably for this win, she would still be very interesting in a big five furlong handicap, while she may still get six furlongs if ridden more conservatively than at York. Understandably now, connections may shun the handicap route with this filly and go in hunt of black type. Despite not being bred to be a sprinter, she could turn out to be a very decent one.

Corsica

Despite taking four runs to get off the mark, Corsica has now won five of his last seven starts, with a fourth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot also on his CV and remains one of the most progressive three-year-old colts in training. Although ‘progressive three-year-old’ is very much a cliché for inmates of Mark Johnston’s yard, Corsica has developed into an interesting contender for the St Leger after his win in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. Given a good ride by Dettori, Corsica and the second placed horse, Harris Tweed, who had beaten the winner previously at Musselburgh in receipt of 18 pounds, pulled five lengths clear of the third horse. Many have cited stamina limitations as the reason for Corsica’s fourth place in the Queen’s Vase when second favourite, but he was running all the way to the line that day and it was in fact the quickening pace into the straight after he had been allowed to dictate a modest early pace that caught him out. The pace in all likelihood will be much stronger for the final Classic of the season and Corsica has a very good chance at Doncaster, although he is due to run in the traditional trial, the Great Voltigeur, beforehand where he may once again be done for a bit of pace.

Amy Ryan

Another Johnston charge, Sea Lord was officially the best horse in the mile three-year-old handicap at Newmarket last Friday. Carrying a six pound penalty for his Curragh win 12 days previously left him two pounds well in there, but he faced some very progressive rivals and winning this sort of race off top weight is no mean feat. That feat was achieved in no small part because of his jockey, Amy Ryan. Chosen by Johnston for her ability to claim five pounds off the horse’s weight due to her inexperience, she gave the horse a fine ride. Lobbing along in front, she held the horse together very well setting the perfect gallop and kept enough up her sleeve to hold the others at bay when they came to challenge. Perhaps thus far best known for her win aboard her father’s Advanced in the Challenge Cup at Ascot last September, she will likely start to get many more rides from other yards after this. She is the latest addition to the excellent female riders we already have in Britain.

La De Two

Away from Newmarket, perhaps the most impressive performance of the entire week came from La De Two in a handicap at York on Friday. A four-year-old having only his third ever start, he has clearly had problems and been difficult to train, but on what he has shown when he has been able to get to the track, he has a serious amount of ability. Rated 97 and thus carrying top weight in a twelve furlong handicap featuring the consistent Crackentorp; the winner of the previous season’s King George V Handicap at Ascot, Cosmic Sun; and a Mark Johnston horse with much potential. Durcan had La De Two settled just behind the pace, produced him to lead a couple of furlongs out and he just powered clear in the last furlong, brushing the others aside by five lengths and more. If Saeed Bin Suroor can keep him sound for the rest of the summer then it is entirely possible that La De Two will develop into a good Pattern class horse. As he was already rated 97 before this run and will take a big rise for this performance, the trainer’s hand will be forced slightly as he will most likely have to go for a Listed or Group 3 next time out, but La De Two has the potential to be very useful.

By Rory King