Empirestateofmind

Empirestateofmind did well to keep on as well as he did to finish second on the one-mile handicap at Doncaster on Sunday.  Prominent from early, just behind a strong pace that Master Richard and Johan set, he came under a ride at the two-furlong marker, but he picked up well.  He appeared to get a little out-paced initially, but he found plenty for pressure.  He stayed on well towards the far side and hit the front inside the final furlong.  He was run down by Atrium, who finished well from the rear, but he kept on admirably to go down by just a neck in the end, finishing a length clear of third-placed Arthur’s Realm.

John Quinn’s horse did well in the circumstances, keeping on well in a race in which the hold-up horses came to the fore.  He did best of the prominent racers, with the winner, fourth and fifth all held up.  He has had plenty of racing, but he is only four and he is progressing nicely now.  He has now finished second in three of his last four races, and he has won the other one, and his last three runs have probably been the best three runs of his life.  He is at his best on soft ground, so he will remain of interest if the ground eases further, and he is effective over a mile, but he stays nine furlongs and, out of a mare who won over a mile, he is worth another try now over 10.
Doncaster, 11^th September 2022