My Sharona

The Sylvester Kirk-trained My Sharona was impressive in landing a six-furlong fillies’ handicap at Goodwood on Saturday.

Admittedly there wasn’t a huge amount of depth to the race, and one of her main rivals probably didn’t handle the ease in the ground, but My Sharona had to prove that she could cope with the drop to six furlongs on a speed track, and she did so with aplomb, probably aided by the easy ground, which she seems to like.

She travelled beautifully throughout, despite the fact that she didn't have much cover at any stage, Richard Hughes appeared keen not to let her hit the front too soon, he just sat on the quarters of Six Wives before bringing her through inside the final furlong, only having to push her out briefly to go past.

Because the winning margin was only three-quarters of a length, the handicapper has only put her up 4lb for this win, and that seems lenient. The time was good, it was the only race on the straight course on the day so it is hard to evaluate, but it stacks up well with the six races on the round course on the card.

This race was a 0-95 handicap (although the highest rated horse was rated just 90) and her new mark of 87 still fits comfortably into that band, so she should be able to defy her small rise in the weights. Her last four runs have all been career-bests, she is obviously still progressing, and she has a lot of scope now back down at six furlongs. She will be interesting in better contests during the autumn, in which her ability to travel so well will be a big asset.

She does stay seven furlongs, her previous nine runs had been over seven furlongs or even further, and she did well to stick on as well as she did for third in the Class 2 Tatler Stakes Handicap at Glorious Goodwood on her previous run having chased much too fast a pace. That form looks strong. The winner Stirring Ballad has won again since, and the runner-up, Arnold Lane, was beaten just a half a length in the big heritage handicap run earlier on Saturday's card. Also, two other horses from down the field have won good races since as well

It does appear though as if six furlongs could be My Sharona’s best trip, especially on easy ground. With the stable having had a fairly quiet time of things since the start of June, there should be more to come from her.

25th August, 2012

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