Academy

Academy ran well to finish second to Auden in what looked a good one-mile maiden at Newmarket. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt was making his racecourse debut and he ran a bit too freely early on, but he eventually settled down, racing off the pace, but well in touch. They quickened the pace three furlongs out and Academy just got shuffled back a bit and was short of room for a while. He still moved well though and he was actually travelling best of all two furlongs out. Ryan Moore asked him for his effort here, and he picked up really well to challenge down the centre of the track, despite carrying his head a little awkwardly and despite hanging to his left as fellow debutant Trumpington Street slightly impeded him. It didn’t cost him the race or anything, the winner Auden had just about flown anyway, but Academy kept on well to take second.

This was a highly encouraging effort from Academy. This is a race which has been won by the likes of Twice Over, Redwood and Fareej in the past, and the winner is a fairly well-regarded Godolphin horse and he had the benefit of racecourse experience coming into this with two decent efforts to his name already. The way that Academy picked up after he had been shuffled back when they quickened it up was impressive, and you can forgive his hanging easily enough, it was probably down to inexperience more than anything else. He should be much better for this run. A son of Montjeu and owned by a Highclere syndicate, he has a Derby entry and he should develop into a nice three-year-old.

30th September 2010