Dalghar

Dalghar just ran out of steam inside the last 150 yards of the seven-furlong Betfair Cup at Goodwood on Tuesday, but there was still a lot to like about his run and seven furlongs looks his trip now. Alain De Royer-Dupre’s colt pulled hard early on, just like he did early on in the Queen Anne, but he was well-positioned for a run here, prominent, just up on the outside of Dunelight. Gerald Mosse elected to send him on fully two furlongs out, he went two lengths clear and traded at as short as 1.06 in running, before Lord Shanakill and Cat Junior got to him deep inside the last furlong.

Dalghar ran too freely through the early stages in the Queen Anne, so there was every chance that this drop back down to seven furlongs would suit better, which it did, but he just got run out of it late on. He would surely have won if he had been held onto for just a little longer, and he should fare much better if he is ridden with a little more restraint on his next run, if his turn of foot is used to maximum effect. The son of Anabaa is still a highly promising as a four-year-old, he is fairly lightly raced for his age, and he will be of interest on his next start. The Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster has been mooted as a possible next target, and he would be a big player in that.

27th July 2010