Cormorant

Cormorant did well to keep on as well as he did to finish fourth behind the impressive Tiger Moth in the Group 3 Paddy Power ‘Is It 2021 Yet?’ Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday. Competition for the early lead was intense, with Fresnel, Mr Mooj and Cormorant all to the fore as they raced down the back straight and established a clear break on the main body of the field.

The trio were about 10 lengths clear of their field by the time they reached the end of the back straight, and Fresnel and Mr Mooj both weakened before they got to the three-furlong marker, but Cormorant kicked as they straightened for home. He was quickly caught by his stable companion Tiger Moth, but even after he had been passed, there was a lot to like about the way that he kept on, only losing second place 25 yards from the winning line.

This was the Kingman colt’s first run since he finished fourth in the Dante at York in July. Winner of his maiden over a mile at Leopardstown as a juvenile last year, he won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on his debut this season, when he made all and held on well from subsequent Hampton Court Stakes winner Russian Emperor. He was sent off at 16/1 for Saturday’s race, and it may be that he is a little under-rated now. He holds an entry in the Group 3 Diamond Stakes at Dundalk a week from Friday, and he would be of interest if he took his chance in that, a race that his trainer Aidan O’Brien has won with a three-year-old five times in the last 10 years.

Leopardstown, 12th September 2020

© Sportinglife.com, 20th September 2020