Bridge Of Gold

The winner Indian Days was good, but Bridge Of Gold is the horse to take out of the Group 3 John Porter over a mile and a half at Newbury on Saturday. He travelled well behind the leader Poet but Christophe Soumillon just delayed making his move for a stride or two, which allowed Indian Days first run on him as that one swooped down the outside. Soumillon then had to take Bridge Of Gold around horses, widest of all. He closed all the way to the line, just failing to get there by a head, and he was in front a couple of strides after the line. He was in receipt of 5lb from the winner, but it is probable that, had Soumillon been able to deliver his run a stride or two earlier, he would have got up.

As you might expect of a horse who had run so well in an Ebor, he was doing all his best work at the finish, but he travelled through the race like a good horse, and just got boxed in as Verdant and Indian Days were asked for their efforts sooner. That Ebor run really was a cracker for a lightly raced four-year-old, especially as he raced prominently in a race that was dominated by those who were held up. He was the only one of the first five home to have raced up with the pace, and he had been off for six months prior to that run.

He wasn’t beaten far in a Listed race at Cagnes sur Mer at the end of February, which would have been a nice pipe opener for him. He is a very interesting horse now, particularly as he should progress as the season goes on. He may prefer easier ground, he does get further than this 12 furlongs, and as such would probably have been better suited to a stronger pace here. He is lightly raced for his age, and could even develop into a Cup horse before the season is out, although he doesn’t lack the pace for this sort of trip. He is an exciting horse, and the fact that he is trained by a small trainer in Mikael Magnusson means that it is likely that he will be under-rated, at least for a little while. He is entered in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup at the Dante meeting next month, and he could be an interesting outsider if he takes his chance in that, a race that is run over the Ebor course and distance.

16th April 2011