Wings Of War

Wings Of War did well to win the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, given how keen he was through the early stages of the race. He was sharply away, but Adam Kirby was anxious to get him back in behind runners as Hierarchy went on, but Wings Of War didn’t really drop the bridle until after they had gone about a furlong and a half. He came under a ride on the run to the two-furlong marker, and he had to manoeuvre a passage for himself, after which he had to get out after Hierarchy, who kicked from the front on the run to the furlong pole. But Wings Of War dug deep on the far side, got to the front 100 yards out and kept going well enough to hold off the renewed effort of Hierarchy.

It was a game performance by Clive Cox’s colt. Winner of his maiden at Nottingham in July, he stepped forward from that to finish a close-up third behind the talented Ever Given in a valuable sales race at York’s Ebor meeting, and he improved again on that on his last run before Saturday to finish second in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes over six furlongs at Kempton. Saturday’s run was a step forward from that, and he should be able to improve again as he learns to settle better. He will be of interest if he runs again before the end of the season.
Newbury, 18^th September 2021