Galice Macalo

Galice Macalo ran well to finish second in the two-mile handicap hurdle that brought the curtain down on proceedings at Sandown on Saturday. Jane Williams’ filly was keen for much of the journey, despite the fact that Totterdown set a fast pace on the ground and stretched the field right out on the run down the back straight. Still a little keen and racing in fourth place down the back straight, she moved up in behind the leader, still keen, as they raced to the end of the back straight, and she wasn’t helped by Rosie And Millie jumping across her at the last two flights in the back straight. She still travelled well into the home straight and, moved towards the near side, she jumped to the front over the second last flight and went for home. She looked a likely winner at that point, and she jumped the last well, but Benson just ran her down up the run-in. She was beaten by a length and a half in the end, but she ran all the way to the line, and she came over seven lengths clear of the third horse, the highly-regarded favourite Mister Coffey.

It was a big run by a four-year-old filly, taking on older geldings, especially given that she raced as keenly as she did for as long as she did. She had made all in both her races before Saturday this season, but she did well here, racing behind a fast pace set by confirmed front-runner Totterdown, for all that she was keen. The handicapper raised her by 7lb for this to a mark of 134, but she is only four and she has raced just five times in her life, so she has lots of scope for progression still. She should do even better as she gains in experience and learns to settle a little better, and perhaps the fitting of a hood could help in that regard.

Sandown, 5^th December 2020