Mia’s Boy

Mia’s Boy ran really well over an inadequate seven furlongs in a conditions race at York on Saturday. Settled out the back in the early stages by John Egan, he was still last and under pressure two furlongs out, but he picked up well once switched to the near side at the furlong pole. It looked like he was going to get there 100 yards out, but his run flattened out a little, and Regal Parade proved just the stronger.

Mia’s Boy has run some of his best races at York, but his turn of foot is a more potent weapon over a mile than it is over seven, and he should be more effective stepped back up to that distance now. The form of his penultimate run, when he finished third (the first three clear) in the Listed Hambleton Stakes over a mile at this track is working out well, with the runner-up, Philario, coming out and winning a decent handicap at The Curragh, and the winner Yamal going down by just a half a length in a hot listed race at Goodwood on Saturday, and the ground would have been just a little softer than ideal for Mia’s Boy that day. Tried again now over a mile on fast ground, ideally at York and if not at a track with a long home straight and no serious undulations (he has shown good form as well at Doncaster and Yarmouth, but has disappointed in both of his runs at Newmarket), he should be worth following.

30th May 2009