Bague D’Or

Bague D’Or did well to win the one-mile-six-furlong handicap at Newmarket on Sunday, given that he came from the group of seven that raced down the centre of the track. He moved to the front of that group fully three furlongs out, and he picked up well when Mickael Barzalona asked him to. He had to do a lot of running on his own on the near side, getting up to get the better of Vaguely Royal and Intrinsic, who both raced in group of four that stayed on the far side in the home straight. The fourth horse Kihavah also raced in the far side group, and Bague D’Or came over 12 lengths clear of the next best who raced on the near side.

James Ferguson’s horse is six now, but he is really lightly raced for his age. Formerly trained by Chris Wall, he switched to James Ferguson last season when Chris Wall retired from training, and he has done well for his new trainer in just three runs for him. He does go well fresh, but his trainer said afterwards that he should come on for the run. He goes well on fast ground too, so he could improve again as we move more deeply into the summer. The Ebor is an obvious target, and he has run well at York in the past, he finished second in a good 12-furlong handicap at the Ebor meeting last year on his only run at the track to date, so he could be a big player in that, but he will be of interest if he goes somewhere in the interim.

Newmarket, 5^th May 2024