Symbolize

Symbolize did well to finish a close-up fourth in the Windsor Castle Stakes, given that he raced from a relatively low stall in a race in which the high numbers dominated. The first three home, Southern Hills, Platinum Star and Glasvegas, raced from, respectively, stalls 21, 19 and 20 of 21.

They didn’t split into two groups in the Windsor Castle, the whole field, with the exception of Wheels On Fire, who was drawn one, congregated towards the stands side, but the horses who raced closest to the stands rail were still probably favoured. Symbolize travelled well towards the centre for David Probert, he picked up well at the two-furlong marker to get past Red Epaulette out in the centre, and he stayed on well from there, but he just couldn’t get to Southern Hills, and he was just run out of the places by Platinum Star and Glasvegas.

This was just Andrew Balding’s colt’s second run. He was impressive in winning a novices’ stakes at Salisbury in May on his racecourse debut on fast ground, and this was a step forward from that. He proved here too that he could operate on soft ground. He is obviously highly regarded, he was sent off as joint favourite for the Windsor Castle, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.

Ascot, 19^th June 2019