Show Court

Show Court ran really well to finish third in the one-and-a-half-mile handicap on 1000 Guineas day at The Curragh on Sunday, far better than the bare form book relates.

For starters, Dermot Weld’s horse was drawn right out wide in stall 18 of 20. The other three horses who, along with Show Court, filled the first four places were drawn in stalls two, 10 and seven respectively. Although Pat Smullen did manage to get Show Court across into a decent position in mid-division, he wasn’t as prominent as either of the first two, Paddy The Celeb and Leah Claire, through the race, and with the pace not overly strong for a 20-runner contest, that probably wasn’t ideal. He travelled nicely to the home turn and he picked up well early in the straight to lay down a strong challenge on the outside, briefly edging past Paddy The Celeb into second place two furlongs out, but he just didn’t have the same kick as the winner form there. He stayed on well to finish third though, closing on Leah Claire for second all the way to the line.

Show Court is only four (the first and second are both seven), he is lightly-raced and progressive, and he should improve again for this experience. Being by Vinnie Roe you wouldn’t have thought that this lightning quick ground would have been what he wanted, but he travelled well on it dropping down in trip, although he just lacked that extra gear through the final couple of furlongs. He should be even better back up at a mile and three quarters and on slightly easier ground. Rated 87 here, he wouldn’t have to go up that much to sneak in at the bottom of the weights for the Ebor, and there is a good chance that that race will be on Dermot Weld’s mind. Even if Show Court is not targeted at the Ebor, he will be interesting wherever he goes next.

26th May 2013