Skysurfers

Skysurfers put in a good performance to finish second behind the talented Yaa Wayl in the listed City of York Stakes run over seven furlongs at York on Friday. He was weak in the market beforehand but he travelled well enough in the race, racing just in behind the pace for Frankie Dettori. He improved to join the front rank a furlong and a half out, and he looked like he was coming to win his race, he was one of the last to come off the bridle, but Yaa Wayl just finished a little stronger than he did on the outside. In the end he was nearly actually caught by his stable companion Fravashi for second place, but it was still a really pleasing effort from Skysurfers. He was bit disappointing on his previous run at Goodwood in May, when he finished three lengths third to Beauchamp Xerxes, but that was his first run in the UK this season, his first since his last race in Dubai at the end of March, and Godolphin were going through a quiet spell at the time.

That last run in Dubai was in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile, when he finished third, just two lengths behind Calming Influence, which was a fine performance especially given that he was wide the whole way. He is still lightly-raced, and there could be a lot more to come from him. He should improve for this run in the City of York Stakes, his first since May and just the sixth race of his life, he should improve for the experience and he seemed to get a little tired just at the end of the race. The fact that he holds an entry in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes gives an indication of the regard in which he is held by Godolphin, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next, especially if the ground has not gone too soft.

20th August 2010

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