Saxo Jack

Saxo Jack was impressive in landing a good handicap at Dundalk on Sunday. Quite wide around the first turn from stall nine, he was a little keener than ideal down the back straight behind what was an honest pace and, while he travelled well around the home turn, he got into traffic problems early in the home straight. He had the pace to extricate himself a furlong and a half out, however, and the manner in which he quickened to the front and then dug deep to hold off the strong challenge of Steps To Freedom late on was wholly likeable.

He was probably still a little green, he ran around a little when he hit the front, and appeared to idle, so he probably had plenty left to give. Once the runner-up challenged, however, he knuckled down well late on to hold him off, and he actually won a little comfortably in the end, clocking the best time on the eight-race card, just a fraction above standard.

This was a step up from his maiden win for Ger Lyons’ horse, which itself had been a big step up on his first two runs. By King’s Best, he took to the surface really well – this was his first run on Polytrack – and, out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, he seemed to appreciate the slight step up in trip. He was winning this off a mark of 89, he and the classy Steps To Freedom drew a little way clear of the rest, and he has lots of scope for further progression now after just four runs. He won his maiden on fast ground, but he shaped well on his racecourse debut on easy ground, he appears to be fairly versatile, and he will be of interest wherever he runs next.

18th August 2013