Educate

Having looked green and a little wayward at times last season, Educate has not looked back since winning a one-mile handicap at Sandown last September, and victory in the Spring Mile at Doncaster last Saturday was his latest step forward.

Racing in mid-division, he edged closer travelling well passing halfway, he had to wait for a gap to appear three furlongs out and he allowed Boots And Spurs to kick on with a quarter of a mile to run. He picked up impressively, however, and showed a really good attitude, not only reel Boots And Spurs back and get upsides, but then to put his head in front despite the runner-up edging into him through the final half furlong.

Unraced for Godolphin, the Echo Of Light gelding is now really fulfilling his potential for Ismail Mohammed, and he can progress again for this. He is versatile, he has won on heavy ground as well as quick ground, and he could develop into a really good handicapper. He is unbeaten, two for two, over a mile, but he proved at York on his final run last season that he stays a mile and a quarter well, and he should be even better stepping back up to that trip now. Significantly, his dam won over a mile and a half and he did just take a little bit of time to really pick up when in the clear here.

A 5lb rise for this is not harsh, the front pair had it between them from a long way out, and the time was 0.28 seconds quicker than the Lincoln itself. He would be interesting now in a big handicap off his mark of 93. The Royal Hunt Cup is reportedly the plan, and he would be interesting if he took his chance in that now. The ability to stay further than a mile is a good asset to carry into that race, usually run at a frenetic gallop up Ascot’s straight stiff mile.

Longer term, Educate will be of big interest when he steps up in trip and up in grade again now.

30th March 2013