Grandorio

The David O’Meara-trained Grandorio was really impressive in easily winning what looked beforehand like a decent little three-year-old 10-furlong handicap at York last Friday.

Held up last of the five runners, he was briefly in danger of getting slightly detached turning out of the back straight, and he did come under pressure around the home turn. He came right back on the bridle three and a half furlongs out, however, eased to the front soon after, scooted clear and had the race put to bed by the two-furlong pole.

The race did fall apart a little, the top two in the market were both big disappointments, but Grandorio still thrashed the progressive Lilac Lace, who had won her previous four and who probably ran her race.

Musselburgh was a disaster for Grandorio on his previous run, he got lit up over a mile and a half and his race was run by the home turn. Before that he had been a really easy winner at Newcastle when he actually raced away from the best of the ground on the far rail for most of the way. The Doncaster race, over the straight mile, on his next run was a bit of a mess and he ended up a little way away from the first and second on the stands rail late on, which wasn’t ideal.

A son of Oratorio, he is well regarded by his trainer and this mile and a quarter looks his trip now. A 12lb rise is not insignificant, but it is well merited, it leaves him on a mark of 93, and that is a mark that may still under-rate him. He could even be better than a handicapper in time.

14th June 2013