Breakheart

Breakheart ran really well in a hotly contested 10-furlong three-year-old heritage handicap at Newmarket on Thursday. Andrew Balding’s gelding was always travelling well on the near side, tracking Circumvent into the straight. He was still on the bridle passing the three-furlong pole, but the pace had been steadied by Tom Queally on Circumvent and, when they quickened up going into the final two furlongs, Breakheart was caught a little flat-footed for few strides. His rider Franny Norton did get him going again, and he picked up and finished really well but he just could not get to Circumvent in the end, going down by only a neck.

This was a really good effort from Breakheart on only his fifth ever start, he won a decent one-mile handicap in good style on his previous start when he had the useful Sand Skier back second place, who finished just behind him again here. This was his first attempt at 10 furlongs, and there was a bit of a worry about him in that regard, there is plenty of speed in his pedigree but, on this evidence, he stays the trip well, and that opens up options for him. He did race in the right place here, close to the pace, but the manner in which they steadied it after making the turn after going fast for the first two furlongs, and then quickened, didn't appear to suit him. He still travelled like a good horse throughout and he will be better with a truer, more constant pace. The handicapper has raised him 4lb for this, but that is fair and there should be more to come.

8th July 2010

Back