Fattsota

Fattsota was the beneficiary of an astute front-running ride from Mirco Demuro when winning the Class 2 one-and-a-half-mile Owen Brown Handicap at Ascot on Sunday, but he did it nicely and this could spur him onto better things now.

Keeping well away from the inside rail down the back straight, Demuro crossed to the inside in front as they took the turn and let Fattsota stride on, a running style which seems to suit the horse well. Having stacked the field up a little around the home turn, Demuro kicked on just before the two-furlong pole. Fattsota didn’t put the race to bed, Cill Rialaig came at him with a strong run 150 yards from home, but Fattsota was able to pick up again when challenged, displaying a wholly likeable attitude, to go on and be well on top at the finish, ultimately appearing to win with plenty in hand.

Marco Botti’s horse just failed to beat Ramona Chase in a scramble to the line at Windsor on his penultimate run before Sunday, some had started to question his attitude a little, but he shaped on his previous run at Sandown behind the promising Encke as though a return to a mile and a half would suit him, and there can’t be many question marks about his resolution now after this authoritative victory. He saw out the trip well, clocking a good time in the process, which opens up options for him now. He has the scope to progress again now over this trip, and he is a brother to the great Falbrav, who matured with age, not reaching his peak until the age of five. There could be much more to come from Fattsota at four now that he has won again (his only previous win had come in a three-year-old maiden at Naples last January). He seemed to really appreciate the return to better ground here too – the times indicate the ground was good and edging towards the fast side of good in fact – although it remains to be seen quite how important ground is to him.

22nd July 2012