Pandoro

Pandora did well to finish third behind Abingdon in the Galtres Stakes at York on Thursday.      David O’Meara’s filly missed the break, as is her wont, she gave away four or five lengths before she emerged from the stalls. The early pace was not strong, which allowed her to make up the ground fairly readily, but it was not ideal for her, a keen-going sort. She travelled nicely into the home straight, eighth of eight, and she travelled well to the three-furlong pole. However, just as she was starting to make her ground at the two-furlong pole, she was broad-sided by the wayward Anzhelika. That didn’t help, she had to take evasive action, nor did the fact that, as a result, she had to make her ground through traffic, instead of coming with a clear run down the outside. In the circumstances, she did well to run on as well as she did to take third place behind Abingdon and To Eternity. The winner probably won with plenty in hand, she is a typical late-maturing Sir Michael Stoute/Ballymacoll filly who will probably improve for stepping up in trip, but Pandora did well to get as close to her as she did in the circumstances.

This was another step forward from Sir Robert Ogden’s filly, and she continues to progress. Third in the Musidora Stakes for Charlie Hills last year, she is nicely progressive now for David O’Meara. Winner of a 10-furlong handicap off a mark of 95 at York in early June, she probably improved on that when finishing third behind Diploma in a listed race back over that course and distance last month. This was probably a step up on that, on this step back up to a mile and a half. She goes well at York and, while she obviously has a few of ideas of her own, she also has talent, and it may be that the quality of this run will be under-rated.

18^th August 2016