Lanansaak

Lanansaak was visually impressive visual in winning a Class 3 fillies’ handicap over a mile at Ascot on Saturday, and the visual impression was backed up by the clock.

Roger Varian’s horses are in really good form at present, and several of Lanansaak's rivals probably didn’t run their races, but it is still difficult to knock this performance. Lanansaak travelled supremely well throughout behind rivals, she was still cruising two furlongs out on the near side and she appeared to make her ground fairly effortlessly challenge Forgive, who had already kicked clear of the rest. There was a brief moment where you wondered whether she would go through with her effort, she edged slightly towards the leader and held her head a little awkwardly in her hood, but once Dane O’Neill shook her up she eased clear and brushed Forgive aside with the rest of the field toiling a long way behind.

She has been raised 18lb to a mark of 100 for this, which is a huge rise but could be irrelevant anyway as connections will surely be thinking beyond handicaps. This was her first run since she was beaten at odds-on almost a year ago, she had apparently had a quarter-crack and her trainer gave her plenty of time. She did wear a hood here, she may not be completely straightforward, but she is obviously really talented, and she could easily progress for this, her first run in 12 months. If she does, she could progress to be a really high-class filly.

Her time was the fastest of the day, only marginally slower than Racing Post par and quicker comparatively than the high-quality Class 2 handicap over seven furlongs at the start of the day. The far side seemed favoured in that race, so Lanansaak may not even have been on the best of the ground, racing close to the stands rail. Obviously this was a hugely impressive performance, you couldn't say that she was under the radar, but she may just have been missed by some as this was just a Class 3 fillies’ handicap run as the second last race on a day when the Irish Champion Stakes and the Sprint Cup were being run at other meetings. She does not hold any lofty entries for now, but she will be of interest wherever she runs next.

7th September 2013

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