Big Audio

All the talk after the race was of how unlucky the runner-up, Emperor Claudius, was in the Chesham Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. In fairness to the Ballydoyle colt, he did get squeezed up between horses on leaving the stalls, and Ryan Moore had to do a fair bit of riding to get him going, into a fast pace set by the American Honor In Peace. However, it is difficult to argue that the winner, Big Audio, was not the winner on merit. He couldn't go the frenetic early gallop, and Richard Hughes eased him back, but when he started to make his ground he was forced out into the centre of the track, which wasn't ideal. Even at that, the horse became unbalanced after hitting the front inside the final 50 yards and drifted markedly to his left. He actually lost a tooth during the race, which may have been what caused him to junk, and Hughes had to stop riding through the final 25 yards or so, but he still hung on to win by a short head.

Big Audio came into this race a maiden, but he had shaped really well to get to within two lengths of a really useful sort from the Michael Jarvis yard on his second and last start before Ascot over an inadequate six furlongs. By Oratorio, he is out of a Grand Lodge mare who was placed over seven furlongs on her only start as a juvenile, a half-sister to a winner over a mile and a half, and it was always likely that he was going to improve for stepping up to seven furlongs. He should improve again for this experience, and he will be interesting over seven furlongs or even a mile again. The Superlative Stakes at Glorious Goodwood looks like an obvious target for him now.

© The Irish Field, 27th June 2009

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