Hamza

Hamza did by far the best of those who raced handily in the hot six-furlong handicap won by Move In Time at Doncaster on Saturday, a race in which it paid to be held up.

The other five horses to be in the front rank after a furlong and a half faded to finish eighth, 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th of 20, whereas Hamza stuck on really well to finish fourth, only beaten by three horses who were held up in the rear half of the field. Actually, the second and third came right from the back, while the winner has been revitalized by being gelded and switched to David O’Meara, and was really well handicapped on his old form.

Hamza travelled really fluently out in front, he was bowling along a length and a half clear at halfway, he was only headed inside the final furlong and even then he kept on well to hold on for fourth, a little way away from the action towards the near side late on.

Kevin Ryan’s four-year-old is not fully exposed, this showed that he was in good form for his first run of the season and there still could be a race like this in him off this mark. He should be even better on faster ground, his three best runs have all come on ground that the times indicate was rattling fast ground. Also, Kevin Ryan’s horses have reportedly been held up by the weather this spring and they may just be a little behind where they normally are, so Hamza may just come on slightly for this run too.

The Amadeus Wolf gelding is only four, he is still progressing, and he could be better than a handicapper this season. Given how much speed he showed here he could make his mark back over five furlongs too, a trip he hasn’t tried since he was a two-year-old.

13th April 2013