Saigon City

Saigon City did well to finish fifth in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle last Saturday.

Slowly away from his outside stall, Tom Eaves actually had to ride him through the first furlong of the race just to get him interested. Second last of the 20 runners as they rounded the bottom bend away from the stands with a circuit to run, he did travel better down the side of the course and into the back straight, and he went well on the bridle and towards the outside, towards the rear of the field, down the back straight. Still no better than 14th or 15th, however, as they straightened up for home, he did start to make ground for pressure from the three-furlong pole, and he stayed on really well through traffic through the final furlong to take fifth place, just failing to catch Moscato for fourth. Indeed, four strides after the line he was third.

This was a really good run from Declan Carroll’s horse, off his highest ever rating. It was probably a career-best. It was a little concerning that he showed so little enthusiasm though the first furlong, but he travelled down the back straight well and he obviously stayed on really well. He was a one-mile and 10-furlong horse for Luca Cumani, but he has progressed markedly since Declan Carroll has stepped him up to marathon trips this season. He stayed on well to win a two-mile handicap on at York’s Dante meeting on his last run before Saturday, and Saturday’s run was a step up on that off a 4lb higher mark.

The handicapper left him on his mark of 92 after Saturday’s run, which was fair, and he will be of interest if he goes back to York, a track at which he is one for one. He will also be of interest if he returns to a track with a long home straight. His only two other wins have been achieved at Yarmouth and Nottingham, both of which have long home straights. Or he could be a horse for the Cesarewitch. There is no longer straight then Newmarket’s, and the two and a quarter miles of that contest would bring his undoubted stamina into play.

25^th June 2016