Shared Equity

Shared Equity only finished 10th in the Wokingham Handicap on Saturday in the end, but he did really well to last as long as he did in the front rank, until the approach to the final furlong. In the front rank from flagfall, Jedd O’Keeffe’s horse travelled well to the two-furlong pole for David Nolan on the far side. He came under pressure on the run to the furlong pole, and he was headed at that point, but he kept on and he only finished about two and a half lengths behind Absolutely So, who won the ‘race’ on the far side.

The race was dominated by the hold-up horses who raced on the near side. Brando did well to go as close as he did from the centre, and five of the first six home raced in the centre or near side. It is rarely an advantage to race in the front rank in a big-field handicap on Ascot’s straight track, especially at Royal Ascot, but Shared Equity is a prominent racer, and he is in top form these days. On his previous run, in a six-furlong handicap at Epsom on Derby day, he made most and beat everything except the well-handicapped Blaine.

He raced off a mark of 100 that day, as he did on Saturday, and the handicapper has left him on that mark. That is 5lb lower than his peak, and it is a mark off which he could win a big-field handicap at a more suitable track. He should do better back on a more speed-favouring track. He is one for one at York, and he finished third of 19 from a poor draw in a big handicap at Goodwood on his only run there, so he will be of interest if and when he returns to one of those tracks. He handles good ground, but he is at his best with a little bit of an ease.

18^th June, 2016