American Affair
American Affair was impressive in winning the five-furlong handicap that opened proceedings at York on Thursday. Slowly away from stall 16 on the near side, he wanted to go faster through the early part of the race than rider Paul Mulrennan wanted him to go. Switched towards the centre on the run to the two-furlong marker, he picked up impressively when his rider allowed him an inch of rein. He moved over towards the far side as he made his ground through the final two furlongs, hit the front inside the final furlong and went on to win by a length, leaving the impression that he had more in hand than that.
Jim Goldie's horse ran a couple of big races in a couple of big sprint handicaps last season, his zenith coming when he got up to win the Portland Handicap by a nose. He was beaten in the Ayr Gold Cup on his final run last season, but you can allow him that, and he is probably better over five furlongs anyway. He was winning here off a mark of 94, but he probably won with plenty in hand, probably from a disadvantageous draw, so there is every reason to expect that he will be able to go up in grade now. He holds an entry in the Temple Stakes on Saturday at Haydock, a track at which he has run well twice in the past, and he will be of interest if he does step up in grade there.
York, 15th May 2025
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