Classic Vintage

Classic Vintage put up an encouraging performance on his seasonal debut to finish fourth behind Albaqaa in a Class 2 handicap run over 10 furlongs at Pontefract on Tuesday. Settled nicely in mid-division by Jim Crowley, and on the inside, Amanda Perrett's horse was one of the first horses to come off the bridle when the pace began to pick up on the run to the home turn a half a mile out. Vigourously ridden around the home turn, he stayed on really well up the home straight, making ground up the hill and finishing well to take fourth place, beaten three half-lengths, with daylight between the first four and the rest of the field.

It wasn't surprising that the son of El Prado got outpaced over this distance. He did win twice over a mile as a two-year-old, but both of those wins were on soft ground, and he is much more stamina than he is speed. He started off over 10 furlongs last year as well, but both of his wins were recorded over a mile and a half, both in decent handicaps at Sandown and at Glorious Goodwood. He ran well in the Melrose and in the March Stakes last season, both over a mile and six furlongs, and it may be that that trip will prove to be his optimum this term. He goes on fast ground and on soft ground, a mark of 96 could under-estimate him now, and he will be interesting wherever he goes next and for the season ahead over a mile and a half or more.

13th April 2010

© The Irish Field, 1st May 2010

Back