Sun On The Run

Sun On The Run had no luck in-running in the six-furlong handicap at The Curragh on Sunday. He could only finish sixth behind Great Minds in the end, but he would have gone a lot closer than that had he enjoyed a clear passage, he shaped like a horse with plenty of ability, and he is well worth keeping in mind.

Settled just behind the front rank and towards the stands rail through the early stages of the race by Kevin Manning, Jim Bolger's horse did have to be niggled along passing the three-furlong pole, but he was picking up when he simply had nowhere to go. Switched off the rail inside the two-furlong pole, there was never a gap that was big enough to enable him move through to deliver a challenge, and his rider was not hard on him inside the final furlong once his winning chance had gone. He may not have beaten the winner even if he had got the gap, but he would have been a lot closer than he was.

The Whipper gelding raced just twice last season as a three-year-old. He won his maiden on his racecourse debut on heavy ground at Cork over six furlongs in March, springing a 14/1 surprise and beating a far better-fancied stable companion into second place. Then, stepped up significantly in trip, he finished fifth behind St Leger winner Leading Light in a 10-furlong race at Navan in May. We didn't see him after that until last Sunday, he obviously had his problems last season, but that could work in his favour this term as he still has lots of scope for progression.

Like a lot of Whipper's progeny, it may be that he needs cut in the ground in order to produce his best, but he will be of interest when he does race on easy ground. On Sunday's evidence, he will probably be at his best over a trip that is in excess of six furlongs.

23rd March 2014

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