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Jallota

Jallota put up a good performance to finish second to Rene Mathis from his wide draw in the seven-furlong handicap at Goodwood on Saturday.

Held up through the early stages of the race by Jim Crowley in a race in which it was an advantage to race handily, and wider than ideal throughout, Charlie Hills’ horse travelled well in behind horses to the two-furlong pole. Asked for his effort from that point, he picked up well towards the near side when he got a gap. Two lengths behind the winner at the furlong pole and trying to make ground into a quickening pace, he was never going to catch Rene Mathis, but he made ground all the way to the line to finish second, just holding off the fast-finishing Farlow for that position.

Fourth in the Group 1 Prix Morning as a juvenile when with Mick Channon, the Rock Of Gibraltar gelding had been in fine form in the early part of this season in Britain on his return from Dubai. A close-up fifth in the Bunbury Cup and a close-up sixth in a good handicap at Newmarket in early August behind Mr Win when he was ridden fairly aggressively, this was another step forward. The handicapper raised him 2lb to a mark of 105, but he can be marked up by more than that given how the race panned out. The pace was not fast, and the prominent racers were favoured, with four of the first five home racing prominently. Farlow lost his place before finishing well, he just got crowded out of it and he will be interesting next time, but Jallota is just a little more interesting. He should do even better too if he can get back on the track before the ground gets too soft.

29th August 2015