Willing Foe

Willing Foe was one of the easiest winners from last week’s St Leger meeting at Doncaster, he picked up really well to take a Class 3 conditions race on Friday, and he looks like a really smart sort now. The Godolphin horse was held up by Frankie Dettori in midfield, he was still on the bridle passing the two-furlong pole, travelling much better than anything else in the race, and picked up well a furlong out to put the race to bed quite quickly. The son of Dynaformer was by far the best horse in the race, and the form got a nice boost when third-placed Tepmokea came out and finished third behind Forte Dei Marmi in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at Newbury eight days later.

Willing Foe was slightly disappointing on his debut as a two-year-old last season, when he was a well-supported favourite and could only finish fifth in a maiden that has produced a few winners, but he looked good when winning comfortably on his previous run over course and distance at the end of July, and he stepped up again here. The handicapper has raised him 6lb to a mark of 91 for this, but that could under-estimate his ability quite considerably. A half-brother to Michita, the 2008 Ribblesdale winner, he should be able to get further than this 10-furlong trip in time, and he could prove to be much better than a handicapper.

10th September 2010