Ornate

Ornate was impressive in winning the five-furlong juveniles’ maiden at Ripon on Saturday.

Moderately away on the near side, William Haggas’ horse was in behind the leaders through the first two furlongs, but they moved away from the stands rail in front of him, and tanked his way to the front.

Two lengths clear at the furlong pole, he came away from his rivals really easily inside the final furlong, with the runner-up Crombay coming nicely clear of the third horse. He was hardly pushed out at all by Graham Lee, yet he still came clear, he won by five lengths, completely unextended, in a good time, the only time that dipped below standard on the day, admittedly on fast ground.

This may not have been the strongest juveniles’ race in the world, the runner-up is now winless in five attempts, but it was difficult not to be seriously taken with Ornate’s performance visually. As well as that, the time adds substance, as does the fact that he could probably have gone significantly faster if he had needed. Interestingly, William Haggas won this race with Rosdhu Queen in 2012 before she went on to win the Lowther Stakes and the Cheveley Park, so it is obviously a race that in which he is not afraid to run his good juveniles. Ornate is a half-brother to Saayerr, who won his first two races as a juvenile and, after getting beaten in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, won the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The Bahamian Bounty colt holds entries in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, and he is a big scopey horse who should only improve as he matures and gains in experience. He should also do better on a flatter track, he seemed to get a little unbalanced on Ripon’s ridges inside the final furlong, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next. He could prove to be quite good indeed.

18th July 2015