Scottish

Scottish put up a good performance to finish third behind Time Test and Western Hymn in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday.

Weak in the market beforehand, the Godolphin horse was probably forced into going too quickly too early when he was challenged for the early lead by Intilaaq. Disputing the lead at the top of the home straight, he got the better of favourite Intilaaq long before they reached the two-furlong pole, but his early exertions told as Western Hymn and Time Test came past. Even so, he kept on well enough to finish within four and a half lengths of that classy pair, and he pulled well clear of the remainder. Intilaaq was disappointing, he probably didn’t run his race, but Niceofyoutotellme and Not So Sleepy and Fire Fighting are decent horses, 100+ rated horses, and Scottish beat them well, on his seasonal debut, having not had the run of the race.

The Teofilo gelding was a progressive performer last season for Fitri Hay and Andrew Balding. He finished second Space Age in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, he finished second to Highland Reel in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and he rounded off the season by beating Mutakayyef and Exosphere in a listed race at Ayr in September.

This was a good start for him for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. It was his seasonal debut, his first for his new yard, and just the eighth run of his life. Given that he was fairly weak in the pre-race market, it is reasonable to expect that he will improve for this first run for his new connections. He is a keen-going sort, but he gets a mile and a half, and he could do better stepped up to that trip now, with this run under his belt. He is entered in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he could be a lively outsider in that if he took his chance in it. He finished an excellent second to Space Age in the King George V Handicap at the Royal meeting last year over the Hardwicke course and distance on his only run at the track to date.

26^th May 2016