Stunning View

Stunning View ran a nice race to finish second to Luisant in the Listed Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday. Held up out the back by Jamie Spencer and last into the home straight, the Dermot Weld-trained colt finished best of all to take second place, two and a half lengths behind the deserving winner Luisant. It never really appeared as if he was going to catch the winner, but he did finish with purpose, and he was unquestionably at least the second best horse in the race.

This was a really encouraging run from the son of Shamardal. Winner of the seven-furlong maiden on the opening evening of the 2009 Galway Festival that his trainer loves to win, he finished down the field when well-fancied for the Goffs Million Mile last September. He was well backed on his seasonal debut in a listed race at The Curragh back in April, but he disappointed there, finishing last of the eight runners behind Keredari. We didn't see him again until Sunday, he has obviously had his problems this season but, a half-brother to Desert King, he is also obviously a talented individual. He is lightly-raced, this was just the fifth run of his life, and he could be a very interesting mile to 10-furlong colt for next season.

31st October 2010

© The Irish Field, 6th November 2010

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