Toshizou

Toshizou kept on well to finish fourth in the 10-furlong handicap at Epsom last Friday. He was held up early on by Hollie Doyle, disputing last place with the ultimate winner Cadillac. But, whereas Cadillac moved up along the inside rail from early in the home straight and got out into the clear with three furlongs to run, Toshizou got a little out-paced when they quickened around the home turn and, still last as they passed the three-furlong pole, ended up going inside and looking for a run among traffic, which is always difficult at Epsom. He did get out as they passed the two-furlong marker, but he was about five lengths behind the leader at that point and it was never really likely that he would get there, given that the early pace was not fast. That said, he stayed on well all the way to the line to take fourth place behind the winner, closest at the finish.

Cadillac was impressive in winning, and his closing sectionals were good, but Toshizou was marginally faster through the final three furlongs than the winner was, and the two of them were far faster than everything else. Roger Fell’s horse wasn’t helped by the moderate early pace, he should be able to do much better now when he can get a stronger pace at which to run. A winner over seven and a half furlongs for Joseph O’Brien, he proved here that he could stay 10 furlongs well, and that opens up new options for him. He has dropped to a mark of 90, 4lb lower then he was when he joined Roger Fell, and he could be a well-handicapped horse now.
Epsom, 2^nd June 2023