Vector Force

Vector Force put up a nice performance to win the one-mile handicap at Naas on Wednesday evening, and Ger Lyons' horse looks set to progress again. Fast away and taken across by Colin Keane from stall six of six to track the leader Strait Of Zanzibar through the early stages of the race, the Kodiac gelding moved nicely down the back straight and around the home turn. Moved up on the outside of the leader as they straightened up for home past the three-furlong pole, his rider was able to sit still in a share of the lead until just outside the two-furlong pole as, one by one, his rivals came under a ride. Keane asked his horse for his effort as they passed the two-furlong pole, and the response was impressive. He picked up nicely, moved across to the far rail and had put three lengths between himself and his rivals by the time he reached the furlong pole. From there, the result was never in doubt, and he kept on well up to the winning line to win by two lengths from Captain Cullen, with another two lengths back to Barack in third.

This was a good performance from the winner. The visual impression was good, the runner-up is a solid 85-rated five-year-old and the winning time was good, 0.23secs/furlong faster than Racing Post standard. The turn of foot that Vector Force showed was impressive, and he was just kept up to his work all the way to the line, leaving the impression that he could have found more if more had been required.

He is nicely progressive now. This was just his seventh run, and he should be able to improve again from this. Hopefully the handicapper will not be too harsh on him now, but he probably does have a fair amount of scope to progress from the handicap rating of 88 off which he raced here. He goes really well on this fast ground, and his trainer's brother intimated after the race that he could get further than this trip, even though he is probably bred to excel over a mile. He will be interesting in a better-class handicap now, ideally on fast ground again.

23rd July 2014

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