Prescription

Prescription ran a lot better than the form book suggests in finishing third in the Listed Sweet Mimosa Stakes at Naas on Wednesday evening. Drawn in stall one, closest to the far side rail, Declan McDonogh had little option but to race over there, and she was able to follow a strong pace that was set on the far side by habitual front-runner Lough Mist. However, the balance of evidence on the night suggests that it was a disadvantage to race on the far side on the straight course, as is often the case when the ground comes up on the easy side at Naas. In fact, the advantage was so pronounced that Johnny Murtagh came all the way over to the stands side from the inside rail on Enchanted Forest in the following race, the two-year-old maiden, run over a mile on the round course. Prescription faced a huge task racing on the far side, so she did really well to get so close, running on well to finish third behind a highly talented pair in Bewitched and Swiss Diva, both of whom raced down the near side, and easily beating the four other fillies who raced with her down on the far side through the early stages. Also, the race was run in a good time, the only race run on the straight track that dipped below standard, which was impressive given that the ground was on the easy side.

The Cheveley Park filly remains interesting. An improver through handicaps and listed races last season, she kicked off this term with an impressive performance to beat Serious Attitude in a six-furlong listed race at Nottingham in May, and that filly enhanced the form when a running-on fifth of the 10 horses that raced on the far side in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot. Prescription is by Pivotal, she is at her best on easy ground, and she can continue to progress. She is relatively lightly-raced for a five-year-old, and it is significant that such a prolific breeding operation as Cheveley Park have decided to keep her in training as a five-year-old. Trainer Sir Mark Prescott obviously felt that there was more to come from her this season, and early indications are that he is right. She will be of interest wherever she lines up next, especially on easy ground, ideally over six furlongs, although she did get seven furlongs well on her only attempt at that trip at Lingfield last October. The Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes at The Curragh on 8th August, a race that is often run on easy ground, looks like an obvious target.

21st July 2010

© The Irish Field, 24th July 2010