Zahoo

Zahoo travelled really well through a 10-furlong 0-85 Fillies’ handicap at Newbury last Thursday. The fact that she travelled so easily and the fact that the leaders weakened a long way out meant she was left right in the front rank further out than would have been ideal. Richard Hills was clearly anxious not to commit too soon and so let her edge right and take her time. Having then shown some pace to go a length up entering the final furlong, she was just mugged in the last few strides by the strong-finishing Diamond Duchess.

It was a similar story on her previous run at Goodwood, also on soft ground, over 12 furlongs where she found herself in front two furlongs out and was worn down inside the final furlong. It doesn’t appear that she is a weak finisher, it may be just that she needs to be delivered late, and to that end she may prove to be better in a big-field handicap where she can travel well off a fast pace and be produced late. A further drop in trip to a mile may also help as she did travel so well here.

She clearly has much more speed than her half-brother Tactic, who has been a good stayer this year and, as a late foal, could still be improving. She raced here off a mark of just 75, and while she was raised 4lb for this effort she remains potentially really well handicapped given the class she showed here. Still lightly raced for this stage of a three-year-old’s career, there could be a big pot awaiting her before the end of the season.

7th October 2010

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