26th-Oct-2013

Cubanita ran a lot better than people generally seem to have appreciated in finishing second behind Tac De Boistron at Chester last time, perhaps because it was only a listed race. However, Tac De Boistron proved the merit of that run when he finished second behind Altano in the Prix du Cadran next time over two and a half miles (and he probably would have won that if it had been over two miles).

Also, Cubanita didn’t have the run of that Chester race. She got shuffled back as Montaser fell back into her lap a little just as Tac De Boistron was making his move, and she did well to get out after him. She was never going to catch him, but she did pull 10 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

That was her first run back after her summer break. Ralph Beckett gave her a similar break last summer, and she improved for her reappearance to beat Sajjhaa by a half a length in a listed race at Doncaster in November, and that filly proved the merit of that form by winning two Group 2 races and two Group 1 races in four runs at Meydan in the spring. A similar level of improvement from Cubanita from her first run back this season would see her go very close.

Soft ground is important to Cubanita, and she will have that today. Also, this is her time of year, and her regular rider Jim Crowley is back on board today. All looks set for a big run.

CUBANITA WON (ADV 7/1, SP 9/2)