Alandi

I wouldn't go losing faith yet in Alandi despite his defeat in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown last Thursday. The race wasn't run to suit him at all, courtesy of a really astute ride from Chirs Hayes on Hindu Kush, who led from flagfall and lasted all the way to the line. Hayes set a pace that suited his own horse, fast in the early part of the race and steady in the middle before he kicked around the home turn. At that point, he caught all of his rivals flat-footed, and he had enough in reserve to last all the way up the hill to the line.

The last time that Hindu Kush and Alandi met, in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on soft ground at the end of April, it was the Oxx horse who came out on top, by three and a half lengths, and it would be easy to conclude that Alandi therefore needs easy ground to be seen at his best. But that may not be the case. He seemed to handle the good ground okay on Thursday, and it is probable that he needs a stamina test and a good even gallop more than he needs soft ground. People may write him off now as a soft ground horse, but I am happy to give him another chance on better ground as long as there is going to be a good gallop and a premium on stamina. His entry in the Curragh Cup at The Curragh on Derby weekend remains of interest.

© The Irish Field, 6th June 2009

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