Dordogne

Dordogne was a really impressive winner of a nine-furlong maiden at Goodwood on Wednesday, and he looks like a really smart colt in the making now. He was allowed to go off at 10/1 here, but he travelled well enough through the race in mid-division. Kieren Fallon did have to niggle him along over three furlongs out and it took him a little while to respond, but he eventually picked up well to join the favourite Sud Pacifique, and then take it up at the furlong pole. Fallon actually never had to use his whip, Dordogne responded really well to just a hands and heels ride, and he kept going all the way to the line, putting over four lengths between himself and Sud Pacifique.

There was a lot to like about this performance from Mark Johnston’s colt. First of all, this was his racecourse debut. He was the only debutant in the race, and 4/7 favourite Sud Pacifique, a €600,000 yearling, set a fair standard on the back of his promising debut run at Newcastle. Jeremy Noseda’s colt looks promising, he looked like he was going to win easily when Ryan Moore sent him to the front, but Dordogne was much too good for him. Also, the third horse Simply Rhythm had shown a decent level of form coming into this, and he in turn, finished well clear of the rest.

Dordogne is by Singspiel out of a 10-furlong winner, and he should do even better as a three-year-old and when he steps up further in trip. He will be interesting if he runs again this season, and he should make a really useful three-year-old next season.

22nd September 2010