Vancouverite

Vancouverite ran a big race in the Listed 10-furlong race at Newbury on Saturday on his first run since March.

Settled out the back in his first-time blinkers in the early stages of the race, the Godolphin horse travelled well for Jamie Spencer up the home straight on the far side. He was the only horse still on the bridle as they passed the two-furlong pole, but Spencer had to ease him back in order to move towards the outside to get some racing room. When he did, and when his rider gave him a squeeze, he picked up, but his move was more a gradual pick-up than a sudden acceleration.

Still just fifth passing the furlong pole, he got past Al Kazeem 150 yards out and closed on the leader Amralah all the way to the line, failing by just one stride to get there. It was a brave win by Amralah, who sat second throughout and went for home from the two-furlong pole, but it is difficult to argue that the runner-up was not the best horse in the race.

This was a good performance by Vancouverite. The early pace was not strong, so it was difficult to make progress into a quickening pace. Also, this was his first run since he ran in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March, it was his first run ever in Britain and his first attempt in blinkers, so there is every reason to expect that he will come on for it.

The Dansili colt was a high-class three-year-old last year in France when trained by Andre Fabre, winning four of his six races, including a listed race and a Group 2 contest over 10 furlongs. He finished second in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta in Dubai on his debut there, and the fact that he was allowed take his chance in the Dubai World Cup gives an indication of the esteem in which he is held at home. He raced on Saturday as if he could improve for a step up to a mile and a half, he has winning form on good ground and on easy ground, and he will be of interest wherever he runs next.

19th July 2014