Westover

Westover shaped like a talented colt in winning the Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown last Friday. Racing in third place early on, he was keener than ideal through the early stages of the race. He didn’t really settle until they started to leave the back straight after they had reached half way. Ralph Beckett’s horse travelled well into the home straight, but he came under a ride on the run to the two-furlong marker. It took him a little while to pick up, as the favourite Goldspur kicked on from the front and looked a likely winner. Westover picked up well though for Rob Hornby when the penny dropped, he reeled Goldspur in and joined him at the furlong marker. He hung to his left, and that gave the finisher Cash a chance. But once he got straightened up again, Westover found more, he just got to the line a short head in front of Cash, but he left the impression that he had more left in the tank.

Cash did well to get as close as he got from the rear, having shown signs of temperament before the start, but Westover was almost certainly the best horse in the race on the day. He was still green though, and those signs of greenness almost resulted in defeat. It was his seasonal debut and just his fourth run ever, so he should learn from this, he should come on for it, and he did well to finish a length in front of last year’s Zetland Stakes winner Goldspur, who had the run of the race from the front. A full brother to Wolferton Stakes winner Monarchs Glen, out of a half-sister to French Oaks winner Nebraska Tornado, he should get a mile and a half all right. He holds an entry in the Dante, and he could be an interesting outsider for the Derby. Sandown’s Classic Trial has an illustrious roll of honour, including as it does, Troy and Henbit and Shergar and Pentire and Fantastic Light and Old Vic and Sakhee. Last year’s Derby winner Adayar finished second in the Sandown race, which was won by last year’s King Edward VII winner Alenquer, with the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir back in third, and the Irish Derby runner-up Lone Eagle in fourth.
Sandown, 22^nd April 2022