Sun Central

With the exception of one blip in a hot three-year-old handicap at Ascot last September, when he had to do a lot of running to get across from a wide draw and when he was too keen once he got across, Sun Central has not stopped progressing since his debut in October 2011. Each one of his runs, except that Ascot one, has been at least slightly better than the previous one, and he produced another career-best to win the Silver Cup, a listed handicap, over a mile and three quarters at York on Saturday.

A strong second favourite in the market, he was ridden patiently, he had only the favourite Montaser behind him for most of the race. He travelled nicely in the hands of Seb Sanders, however, who has ridden him for each of his three runs now this season, and who is clearly getting to know him well. The early pace hadn’t been overly strong, however, and he came under pressure early in the home straight when the front-running Albamara went for home. He didn’t look a likely winner at all three furlongs out, Montaser and Songcraft appeared to be going much better either side of him, but he found loads for pressure when his stamina kicked in, and he powered clear to beat the talented Songcraft - who was proven over course and distance earlier in the season and who was well backed beforehand - by an ever-extending three and a half lengths in a very good time, 0.82 seconds below standard.

A half-brother to, among others, the top-class pair George Washington and Grandera, Sun Central obviously loves this fast ground (he was taken out of the Northumberland Plate on the morning of the race because of the easy ground), he is a real stayer and, given how progressive he remains, he would still be interesting in the Ebor over this course and distance next month even with his 8lb hike off top or near-top weight. He would be even more interesting, however, in the Lonsdale Cup, or even the Doncaster Cup, were William Haggas to go that route instead. Given how convincingly he won this in the end, and given his undoubted stamina and his willing attitude, it is difficult to say were his progression will stop.

13th July 2013

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