Ancien Regime

Ancien Regime ran a nice race on his debut for Godolphin when second to old stager Knot In Wood in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs at Newcastle on Saturday. Slowly away, probably deliberately, under Jamie Spencer, it took the King's Best colt a little while to settle. He was still travelling well two furlongs out, but by the time he was switched to the near side to deliver his challenge, Knot In Wood was already going for home on the far side, and really wasn't for catching. Nonetheless, Ancien Regime ran on nicely all the way to the line.

This was a nicely encouraging run from the four-year-old colt on ground that would have been soft enough for him with an eye on the future. He was a useful performer for Michael Jarvis last season, kept to five and six furlongs after appearing not to stay on his only try at seven. A decent winner of a Group 3 contest over Sandown's stiff five furlongs against his elders last July, he didn't run again until he appeared in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock in September when, although only sixth, he was just a length and a half behind the winner African Rose. Jarvis said last year that he wanted a stiff five furlongs or an easy six to be at his best. He is in the July Cup, which is interesting. Although the July course has an uphill finish, is it not as stiff as the Rowley Mile course, and it certainly isn't as stiff as is commonly thought. Standard times suggest that it is the third fastest straight six furlongs in Britain behind only Lingfield and Goodwood, faster even than York and Doncaster. Odds of 50/1 about Ancien Regime for that contest are big. Even if he does not take his chance in the July Cup, he should be worth following wherever he goes next.

27th June 2009

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