Stargazer

Stargazer put up a really nice performance to win the three-year-olds’ 10-furlong handicap at Sandown on Friday.

Settled in mid-division and along the inside by Ryan Moore through the early stages of the race, he travelled well down the back straight, and he swung into the home straight in fifth place.  Squeezed along from the top of the home straight, he picked up nicely on the far side and hit the front under just a hands-and-heels ride just outside the furlong pole.  From there, he went about a length clear and he kept on well all the way to the line to hold off the late challenge of another promising colt in Lovell.

This was probably a good performance.  Stargazer made his ground on the far side, possibly on the worst of the ground, and he beat a useful-looking sot in Lovall, with the pair of them clear.  Also, the winning time was the second fastest of the five 10-furlong races run on the day, second only to Midterm in the Group 3 Classic Trial, and Midterm is now no better than 6/1 for the Derby.

This was Stargazer’s seasonal debut, it was just his fourth run ever, and he was weak enough in the market before Friday’s race, so it is reasonable to expect improvement.  By Canford Cliffs out of Musidora Stakes runner-up Star Ruby – who won a fillies’ maiden on this card seven years ago – he is a half-brother to Stravagante, who looked like a horse with immense potential when he won a decent 10-furlong handicap at Epsom on Derby weekend last year.  He could run in another handicap now before stepping up in grade, but he will be of interest wherever he goes next.

22^nd April 2016