Swift Gift

Swift Gift put in a good performance to finish sixth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Ascot on Friday. Drawn 30 of 30, the Brian Meehan-trained gelding raced on the far side, well in touch with the leaders of that group. He came under pressure two and a half furlongs out, but kept on really well for it, he did drift to his left though, despite the fact that Martin Dwyer had his whip in his left hand, which meant that he finished the race out in the centre of the track which was the slowest part of the track. They finished in a V shape spread across the track, with Treadwell and Himalya on either side of the track, the top points of the V, and Swift Gift at the bottom point, which heightens the probability, as the goingstick readings all week suggested, that the slowest part of the track was the centre.

Even though Swift Gift finished sixth, he was only beaten a total of two and a half lengths and that represents a fine effort in such a competitive handicap. This was his first run in 113 days, his first since he finished down the field behind Midshipman in a conditions race at Meydan in February, and he should come on for it. The son of Cadeaux Genereux is a seven-furlong specialist, he has raced over that distance on 16 of the 17 occasions that he has raced, and he loves Ascot. Seven furlongs at the Berkshire track is his optimum. He won the Victoria Cup last year and he ran well in another big handicap over the same course and distance last September. Also, he ran quite well in this same race last year, finishing fourth out of his group on the far side off a 7lb lower mark than his current mark. He will be of interest next time, especially if he races over this course and distance.

18th June 2010

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