Showcasing

Showcasing was a really impressive winner of the Gimcrack Stakes at York on Wednesday. Tracking the leader in the centre of the track Taajub in the early stages, the son of Oasis Dream had to be ridden along a little by Jimmy Fortune at the two-furlong pole as the leader remained on the bridle, but he picked up impressively once he realised what was being asked of him. Switched to the near side, it looked ominous for a few strides, but once he picked up, he did so really impressively, sticking his neck out, grabbing the ground willingly and maintaining a true course. He went to the front inside the final furlong and stretched away impressively, despite running a little green. He shied at the cameraman just before the winning line, which is usually a good sign, a sign that he is not absolutely exhausted and still have enough energy to notice things and react to them. John Gosden said afterwards that he would go for the Middle Park now over six furlongs instead of stepping up in trip to seven for the Dewhurst, and that makes a lot of sense. Amadeus Wolf and Belmont have both followed up victory in the Gimcrack by winning the Middle Park in the last six years, and it is the right race for Showcasing. He is by Oasis Dream, his family is all speed, and he showed a lot of speed here on a speed track, on fast ground and with a tailwind that helped him break the track record. This was just the third race of his career, and he can go on again from this. I am not sure about quotes of 14/1 for next year's Guineas, but he could be a top sprinter next year, and he will take some beating in the Middle Park.

19th August 2009

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