Quite The Man

Quite The Man finally got off the mark over hurdles, at the fifth time of asking, in what was a competitive two-mile-one-furlong handicap at Market Rasen on Sunday. The Malcolm Jefferson-trained gelding took a bit of a keen hold through the early stages and he only really settled and travelled well when the tempo of the race increased at the halfway stage. He was held up in about midfield throughout the contest, and his rider Graham Lee just pushed him along to get him into the race after the fourth last. He began to make good progress up to the leaders after the next flight, and having travelled well enough to get upsides the favourite Zarinski heading to the second last, he was left in front when that runner ended up going wrong just before that flight. He was fortunate to be handed the lead at a crucial time, but there was still a lot to like about the way he was able to repel the challenge of Flinty Bay on the run-in, holding off the second favourite to win by a length and a half, with the fast finishing Fujin Dancer back in third.

This race was marred by the fatal fall that Zarinski suffered, but this was a pleasing performance by Quite The Man. He had been a bit of disappointment over hurdles last season, after promising a lot when winning on his racecourse debut in a bumper at Kelso, but this was much more like it and he should be able to go on from here now. There was a lot to like about the way he was able to hold off Flinty Bay, who had shown a good level of form previously, and had been close enough to subsequent impressive Challow Hurdle winner Backspin on his most recent start. The pair were closed down late on by Fujin Dancer, who looks like another progressive type.

Quite The Man could go on and realise his potential now, although his long-term future may be over fences. He had actually been off the track since October before this, which may have told when he proved hard to settle in the early stages, and it may be a case that he will come on again for this run. Good ground seems to suit him well and there is probably a fair bit more to come.

23rd January 2011

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