Poet's Voice

Poet’s Voice put in a nice performance to finish a close second to Sea Lord in the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury last Thursday. He was held up at the back of the field by Ted Durcan, but he travelled well enough off what was a solid pace set by Sea Lord. They all began to bunch in behind Mark Johnston’s horse as the race developed, but Poet’s Voice was still second-last and in a most un-promising position passing the two furlong-pole. He picked up well from that point, however, to sweep past all except Sea Lord. He was really unlucky not to get up, it just came down to a head-bob in the end, with some smart horses in behind.

This was much more like it from Poet’s Voice after two disappointing runs in France so far this year. He was apparently the Godolphin second string here, but he was a fairly talented juvenile, he finished third to Elusive Pimpernel on his debut at Newmarket last July in what is usually a hot maiden, and he won the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last September. He was seen good enough to start off this year in the French 2000 Guineas, were he was a little disappointing, and he probably got stuck in the mud in a Group 3 at Longchamp on his last run before this race.

This was a much truer indication of his ability. In Sea Lord, he was beaten by a highly progressive performer, a horse that has gone from strength to strength this season and who is incredibly difficult to pass, and he finished in front of his better-fancied stable companion Secrecy, who won well at Kempton on Monday. Also, the time of the race was good, just slightly slower than standard and the fastest comparative time on the day.

There is every chance the son of Dubawi can build on this now, and he may be seen to better effect over further, they went a solid gallop and he was staying on best of all at the end. He is in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood on Saturday, and he would be of interest in that as long as the ground doesn't come up too soft.

12th August 2010

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