King's Apostle

King's Apostle was well back in the field as they passed the two-furlong pole in the Duke of York Stakes at York on Wednesday, but he made relentless progress through the final furlong and a half. He would have won the race as well had Utmost Respect not been making a similar move on the far side. The difference was that the RIchard Fahey horse started his run from further forward than William Haggas's horse, and that he made his run among horses whereas King's Apostle was out on his own in the middle of the track on what was probably the slowest part of the track for the final furlong. Interestingly, four of the first five home were draw on the far side, from three to seven. The one who wasn't was King's Apostle, who raced from stall 11.

This was a notable effort from the runner-up. He found the five furlongs of the Palace House Stakes on fast ground way too sharp on his debut this season - five of his six wins have been gained over six furlongs, the other over seven - and he was much more at home over six. The time of the race was good, and the form has been further enhanced by Utmost Respect's win in the Greenlands Stakes, albeit back on his favoured soft surface, at The Curragh on Saturday. King's Apostle has to be on the shortlist now for the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot. The stiffer test that Ascot presents will suit him well - the standard time for a six-furlong contest at Ascot is almost three seconds slower than the standard time for six furlongs at York - and he won the Diadem Stakes over that course and distance last September. The visor that he wore for the first time there (and not since) may be re-fitted. If it is, the hint should be taken, and he could be allowed go off at a decent price.

13th May 2009

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