Fencing Master

As well as the fourth horse Steinbeck, the other one to take out of Saturday's Dewhurst Stakes for me was Steinbeck's stable companion Fencing Master. This was just the second start of the Oratorio colt's life, so it was understandable that he was green. He broke well, but it was all happening a little quickly for him through the early part of the race, with the result that he was second last and ridden along after a furlong. He had to move to the middle of the track to get a clear run, which wasn't ideal, but they had gone hard up front and he began to pick up impressively. It looked like he and Xtension had it between them out in the middle of the track a furlong out, and he did win that duel, but he couldn't repel the late lunge of his stable companion Beethoven.

Fencing Master is bred for middle distances next year. His sire was a top class 10-furlong horse, and his dam, Moonlight Dance, by Alysheba, a stamina influence, won the Group 1 Prix Saint Alary over 10 furlongs on soft ground. Fencing Master raced on Saturday as if he would appreciate going further even now, so it may be that he is more a Derby prospect for next year than a Guineas prospect. His sire improved with age and with experience, and trainer Aidan O'Brien said afterwards that this fellow was going a similar way. He is a really interesting prospect for next season.

17th October 2009

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