Fallen Idol

Mentioned here after he won the Esher Cup over a mile at Sandown last month, Fallen Idol is worth another mention after he won the Listed Heron Stakes over the same course and distance on Thursday evening. He only just got up to beat the 82-rated horse The Rectifier by a head in the end, which on the face of it is not a step forward on his Esher Cup run, but he overcame adversity to do so, and the presence of the still potentially high class Aldovrandi in third place, just two heads back, gives the form a solid look. Fallen Idol had his head over the gate when the stalls opened, with the result that he was left a couple of lengths at the start, he had to settle in behind, disputing last place in the early stages, which was far from ideal given how slow the early pace was. They went steady all the way around to the home straight, Fallen Idol widest of all and seeing plenty of daylight, and then the quickened from the front. Fallen Idol was caught a little flat-footed initially, it took him a little while to get going, just as it had on his previous run, and he looked booked for third place going inside the final 150 yards, but he did eventually get going, and he just got up to catch The Rectifier and Aldovrandi in the very last strides.

Trainer John Gosden thought enough of him to give him an entry in the St James's Palace Stakes, but he took him out of that race this week, and he will apparently go for a Group 3 race for three-year-olds at Chantilly on 13th June instead. The lack of pace that is often a feature of French races would be a worry there, but he is hugely progressive, this was just his third ever race and his third win, and he could make up into a high class miler this season. He will be seen at his best off a fast pace and, out of a Nassau Stakes fourth, he should get 10 furlongs in time if he needs to.

27th May 2010

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