Border Patrol

The first division of the Dubai International Airport Maiden run at Newbury on Saturday is probably a race that will be worth saving on your Sky Plus machine. This is the race that has thrown up such high class horses as Diamond Tycoon, Mudawin and Purple Moon in the recent past, and the first three from this contest - Border Patrol, South Easter and Ebiayn - should all be worth following.

Border Patrol was well backed to win the race, and he duly did. He was niggled along a little from half way by Steve Drowne, but he kept on going forward. He didn't travel as well as South Easter or Ebiayn down to the furlong pole, but he kept on finding on the far side, and stayed on really well on the soft ground to get the better of the duel that developed between himself and South Easter, the pair of them pulling six lengths clear of Ebiayn. The time of the race was impressive, over a second and a half faster than the second division of the race run later in the day, and just over a second slower than the big handicap, the Heritage Cup, run over the same course and distance later on.

Border Patrol should progress from this. He is a half-brother to the sprinter/seven furlong horse Eisteddfod, but some of his other siblings have stayed well, and he is by Selkirk, so it is no surprise that he sees out this mile well. He should be worth following wherever he goes next.

© The Irish Field, 25th April 2009

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