Barefoot Lady

There is a possibility that Barefoot Lady may not get due recognition for winning the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket last week, but that would be a mistake. She was drawn 11 of 11 and had to race widest of all on the outside flank of the field the whole way down the Rowley Mile with no cover, which would have been far from ideal on her seasonal return. She had two lengths to make up passing the furlong pole, but she stayed on all the way to the line, forcing her head in front a couple of strides from the post, getting every yard of this seven furlongs. This was only her fifth lifetime start and she showed a thoroughly likeable attitude in getting past some well-bred fillies.

She was probably fitter than most of her rivals here, she was not entered in the Guineas and this was a nice prize to win in its own right, but the favourite Sing Softly had had two runs this year already and the winner may not have had that much in hand in terms of fitness as many are making out. Her sire, Footstepsinthesand (a Guineas winner himself), wanted fast ground, and she is bred to stay at least a mile as her dam was a three-time 10-furlong winner. On this evidence, she should improve for stepping up to a mile, and she should definitely do better with a more favourable draw. It doesn't look likely now that connections are going to pay the £30,000 supplementary fee for the Guineas, which is a shame, she would have been a lively outsider, but she should be able to make her presence felt wherever she does go next. She does hold an entry in the Coronation Stakes, and she could be an interesting outsider in that against more high-profile fillies coming on to that race from the Guineas.

13th April 2011

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