Intrinsic Bond

Intrinsic Bond did well to finish second in the Shergar Cup Dash at Ascot on Saturday, having racing prominently in a race in which the pace was fast and in which the hold-up horses came to the fore. Sharply away from stall two on the far side, he was quickly into a prominent position under Matthew Chadwick. He travelled well towards the far side, just behind the leader Michaela’s Boy in a leading group of four which had a little break on the rest of the field from early. The other three horses who, with Intrinsic Bond, made up that leading group of four ultimately faded to finish third last, second last and last. By contrast, Intrinsic Bond hit the front at the furlong pole, and he kept on strongly even after he was passed by Rogue Lightning to finish second, nicely clear of the third horse.

It was a strong performance by the Intrinsic gelding on just his second run for Michael Wigham. He won over this course and distance at Ascot’s King George meeting at the end of June on his first run for his current trainer, and this was a nice step forward from that, racing, as he was, off an 8lb higher mark. The handicapper has left him on his mark of 99, and that is a mark off which he will be of interest again now. He obviously goes well at Ascot, and he goes well at Ripon – he won this weekend’s Great St Wilfrid Handicap last year – but he will be of interest wherever he goes now in this form. He goes well on easy ground too, so he will remain of interest when the ground softens again. A stiff five furlongs or an easy six seems to suit him best, and he will always be of interest at a track at which his prominent style of racing is a positive.

Ascot, 12^th August 2023