Swift Gift

There was a lot to like about the performance that Swift Gift put up to land the Class 3 seven-furlong handicap at Newbury on Saturday. Settled out the back in the early stages by Jamie Spencer behind a sedate early pace, he made nice progress when asked to improve from the two-furlong pole. Switched left out towards the centre, onto what may have been a slower part of the track on the day, he continued his progress to take it up off Masai Moon. He did show a tendency to want to go to his left a bit, but Spencer soon had him straightened up and, once he did, he stayed on really well to withstand the late challenge of Golden Desert, who appeared to be travelling better at the furlong pole, and win quite cosily in the end, probably value for a little bit more than the three-parts-of-a-length winning margin.

After winning the Victoria Cup at Ascot in May over seven furlongs, Brian Meehan's gelding disappointed in the Buckingham Palace back over the same course and distance at the Royal meeting, but he lost a shoe in that race, and he proved that run to be all wrong on Saturday. That was just his third run of the season, and he is most progressive now. The handicapper has given him 5lb for his latest win, which is more than fair, and he could be one for the big International handicap back over seven furlongs at Ascot in September.

15th August 2009



© The Irish Field, 22nd August 2009

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