Ziggy

Crystal Black’s win in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes for the Keanes was one of the stories of the week, but Ziggy did well to keep on as well as he did to take third place behind him.

Harry Eustace’s horse actually raced quite close to the winner through the race.  Slightly keener than ideal through the early throes, towards the outside and just worse than mid-division, he got a little out-paced when they quickened at the top of the home straight.  Crystal Black went past him at that point and set sail for home, but he kept on gallantly through the final two furlongs, improving from 12^th place to third place by the time they reached the winning line.

Ziggy is six now, but he was off the track for 15 months before he returned this season at Epsom in April, and he appears to be at least as good as ever.  He shaped here too as if he could appreciate a step up in trip.  He was beaten on his only attempt over a distance in excess of a mile and a half, but that was in October 2021, at York on soft ground.  You can easily allow him that.  His best form is on good or fast ground, or on all-weather and, by St Leger winner Sixties Icon and a half-brother to Lingfield Oaks Trial winner You Got To Me, out of a mare who won over a mile and a half, there could be more to come from him now when faced with a greater test of stamina.

Ascot, 20th June 2024

© Sportinglife.com 24th June, 2024