Laaheb

Laaheb produced a good effort to take the 12-furlong listed Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket last Saturday. Richard Hills gave the Michael Jarvis-trained gelding a positive ride, even though it was his first start over 12 furlongs. He tracked habitual pace-setter Whispering Gallery through the early stages, moved up to press him four furlongs out, went on three furlongs out and stayed on well all the way to the line, despite edging a bit to the right, to win well.

Laaheb has always been held in high regard by connections, and the fact that he won over 12 furlongs here now opens his options. He was favourite for a listed event at Goodwood on his previous run, but that was a fairly messy race run at a really steady pace which did not suit, and he probably did well in the circumstances to finish second to the hitherto underachiever Class Is Class. He did it well here though and he kept on really well to the line. He was a highly progressive three-year-old, winning four times, and he started this season off a mark of 112, having won his first handicap off 82 last season. He looks to have carried that progression forward to this season and there should be a lot more races to be won with him now.

26th June 2010

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