Danzeno

Danzeno is not straightforward, but he did well to finish as close as he did in third place in the Duke of York Stakes at York on Wednesday.

Drawn towards the far side – which appeared to be favoured on the day – in stall six, Paul Hanagan took him over towards the near side after they had gone 200 yards, presumably so that he could race without company.

He disputed a fast pace from early with 33/1 shot Goken, who raced on the far side, and he was in the front rank and travelling well when they passed the two-furlong pole.  As soon as he came under pressure, however, he started to hang to his left, back towards the far side.  He didn’t do Mattmu any favours, and Hanagan had to tug on his right rein, just to keep him from hanging across Suedois.  Only third inside the final furlong as Magical Memory burst for home on the far side, he continued to hang to his left all the way through the final furlong, which meant that his rider was concentrating his efforts on keeping him straight as much as on asking him to go forward.  Even so, he still kept on well enough to take third place, just a length and a half behind Magical Memory with the front four nicely clear.

This was a fine run from Michael Appleby’s horse on his seasonal debut.  It isn’t the first time that he has hung in his races, he does seem to like to go to his left when he comes under pressure, so surely the goal next time should be to get him close to his left-hand rail. There is no doubting his talent.  Second, beaten just a head, in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot in October 2014, and third in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot last October, he does go well at Ascot, so he will be of interest when he returns there.  A stiff six furlongs is probably his optimum, ideally on easy ground.  He will be interest wherever he goes next, especially if he is drawn close to a left-hand rail, and he will be of particular interest when he returns to Ascot. It is surprising that he does not hold an entry in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

11^th May 2016