King Of Jazz

Mentioned here early last season, King Of Jazz is worth noting again now after an encouraging run in the Class 2 six-furlong handicap at Doncaster on Saturday. He didn’t get a clear run at all from the back, he ran into lots of traffic, but he ran on nicely through the final furlong under just a hands and heels ride after his winning chance had gone. The race was run to suit the hold-up horses, but he was never in a position from which he could win or even get close, and he is worth another chance.

The Acclamation gelding was similarly eye-catching on his first couple of runs for Michael Bell at the start of last season, but he was largely disappointing after that. There is a chance that he is at his best when fresh (his best form as a three-year-old came in the first half of the season too) but he should be stronger horse this year as a five-year-old and he may hold his form better. If he does then there is a race like this in him off his current mark of 87, 14lb below his peak as a three-year-old.

He does stay seven furlongs well – he was third in last season’s Victoria Cup at Ascot on soft ground – but his optimum is probably a stiff six furlongs and a strong pace, he had also run really well under those conditions at Doncaster two weeks ago, and he should be worth watching out for over the coming weeks now.

13th April 2013

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