Suruor

They didn't seem to go a great gallop in the early stages of the Class 3 one-mile handicap run at Newmarket on Saturday, and that may have been to the advantage of the winner Suruor. David Simcock's gelding had never been beyond seven furlongs before, and had won his maiden over six at Ayr last July. However, that view may unjustly downplay the quality of this performance. Held up out the back in the early stages, the son of Selkirk picked up nicely into the Dip, he was brave enough to go through a narrow gap which appeared a furlong out, he quickened through it impressively and pulled away to win nicely by two lengths.

This was a decent contest. The favourite Militarist won the Wood Ditton over this course and distance in April, beating Harbinger, who was so impressive at Chester and was quoted at 14/1 and 16/1 for the Derby afterwards, into second place. Runner-up Russian George is progressive and was a game winner at Thirsk on his previous start, while the third and fourth, Something Perfect and Secret Society, were both progressive individuals from good yards. The general feeling afterwards seemed to be that the slow gallop played into Suruor's hands, and that may mean that he will be over-priced when he races next over a mile. However, it may be that he is a big improver. Although he had raced eight times before last Saturday, he was having just his third run for Simcock since he was bought out of Mark Johnston's yard for £14,000. His last two runs now represent significantly improved form on his previous runs. He was beaten just a head on the Polytrack at Wolverhampton last month on his debut for his current yard, and he stepped up on that when he stayed on well to land a handicap at Warwick over seven furlongs off a mark of 75 on his second run. Saturday's run was another significant step forward off a 7lb higher mark, and he has a really nice progressive profile now. He is from the family of Singspiel, his dam won twice over a mile, he is a half-brother to 10-furlong and 12-furlong winners, and he is by Intikhab, a miler who stayed nine furlongs, so there is no reason why he should not stay a truly-run mile. They are talking about the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot for him next and, as long as the handicapper isn't too harsh, he could go well in that at a big price.

© The Irish Field, 30th May 2009

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