Cape Amber

Cape Amber ran a nice race on her first run of the season when she finished fifth to the highly progressive Ave in the Listed Upavon Stakes at Salisbury on Wednesday. Far too free in front in the early stage on her first run in 11 months, it wasn't at all surprising that she was caught entering the final two furlongs, and she faded to finish fifth in the end. She wasn't actually beaten that far, and she can build on this. She was a decent filly last season who kept the highest company - she was second to Lush Lashes in the Musidora and sixth behind Look Here in the Oaks - and rounded off the season by winning a decent listed race at Yarmouth over 10 furlongs in September. She is a free-running sort at the best of times, but she should settle better with the freshness knocked out of her after this run. She still has to prove that she has trained on from three to four, but if she has, she could be under-rated now, and she will be interesting wherever she goes next.

12th August 2009