Horses To Follow » King Zeal

King Zeal

King Zeal put up a good performance to finish second in an Apprentice “Hands And Heels” 10-furlong handicap at York on Friday, just giving best to last year’s winner Veiled Applause inside the final furlong. James Rogers probably set too fast a pace on King Zeal out in front, having got across from a wide draw, and he actually did very well to remain in front right until the final hundred yards when he was headed by both the winner and Red Jade, but he battled back strongly to get up for second past Red Jade with the three of them pulling well clear of the rest. The time of the race was very good, only marginally slower than the time Waseet clocked when beating King’s Gambit and Kirklees in the conditions race run over the same distance earlier in the day.

King Zeal is lightly raced for a six-year-old, having raced 16 times and recorded four wins. All four of those wins have come in his last eight starts with this effort being his second runner-up finish of those eight starts, so he is clearly in great form at the moment. His trainer may well be able to find him another winning opportunity before the season is out.

8th October 2010