Tropics

Tropics was strong in the market all day for the Sky Bet Dash at York on Saturday, and he won with something in hand, probably plenty more than the official margin suggests.

He travelled really well in mid-division down the middle of the track, he was still travelling really well passing half way, and he started to make up ground when brought towards the near side two furlongs out. There was quite a bit of trouble to his left as Amy Ryan’s saddle slipped and she came off Bogart, and Tropics got to the front fairly easily after that, but probably plenty early enough as it turned out.

He seemed to think that he had done enough once he got to the front. That is a little worrying, he edged to his left towards the runner-up Summerinthecity, but although he wasn’t really doing much in front, he was always holding on. He gave the impression that he had plenty more left to give, and the front pair had it between them from over a furlong out.

The son of Speightstown is another one of these Dean Ivory-trained sprinters who is very much on the up, and it is difficult to know where his progress is going to stop. Sirius Prospect did a similar thing for Ivory a couple of seasons ago, progressing from a mark of 79 in June to a mark of 110 by the end of the season and winning a listed race. Given the ease with which Tropics got to the front, it is likely that he could still have a fair bit more to come and he could prove to be very good indeed.

He will be a major player if he is allowed to take his chance in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood on Saturday, even under a penalty for this win. That would see him set to compete off a mark of 106, which could still under-estimate his ability. He could make up into a Group class sprinter.

27th July 2013