Tabassum

Tabassum may have run away with Richard Hills on the way to the start of the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket on Friday, but she impressed on her way back. Settled nicely in the front rank in the early stages, on the near side of leader Fairy Promises, Hills allowed the Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly go on into the lead still under minimal encouragement two and a half furlongs out as her rivals all came under pressure. It took her a couple of strides to pick up when her rider went for her, and she did drift down towards the stands rail, but she pulled well away going up the hill inside the final 100 yards to pull four lengths clear of her rivals and post a most impressive victory from Electric Feel, who in turn was clear of the remainder. This may not have been the greatest juvenile fillies' Group 3 contest ever run, and the withdrawal of Sweet Sonnet before the start robbed the race of some of its quality, but the manner of Tabassum's victory was deeply impressive on just the second start of her life. Her maiden win at Newmarket in August isn't working out too well, but you can only ever beat what is put in front of you, and Tabassum has done so on both occasions she has been asked to do so to date. Furthermore, the time that she posted here was impressive, the fastest of the three seven-furlong races run over the course and distance on Thursday and Friday, when the track was estimated to be riding at the same speed on both days, and over a half a second faster than the time that it took the colt Sir Parky to complete the distance in the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes when they didn't hang around. The daughter of Nayef should improve again for this experience, she was a little green still when she was asked to go and win her race, and the Rockfel Stakes back over this course and distance on 17th October is the obvious race for her now, although it is a little bit of a worry that Stoute said afterwards that she was a fizzy filly who would probably be best served by going straight to the Guineas. She is undoubtedly a Guineas candidate now. She should have no difficulty with the extra furlong.

2nd October 2009

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