Wannabe Yours

Wannabe Yours was impressive in landing the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes, the Group 3 one-mile race for three-year-olds at Glorious Goodwood on Friday.

Settled in on the rail in fifth place of the seven runners through the early stages of the race, he had moved up to third place, just behind the leading pair Rapprochement and Shifting Power as they passed the three-furlong pole. He was locked away on the rail at that point, however, and rider William Buick had to wait until Hors De Combat and Windfast had both moved past him on the outside before he could move his horse out and ask him for his effort.

When he did, however, the response was impressive. The Dubawi colt showed a really good turn of foot to get himself off the rail and get out after Hors De Combat. Still about two and a half lengths behind passing the furlong pole, he joined the leader about 50 yards before the winning line and moved on to win a little cosily by a neck.

This is solid form. Favourite Shifting Power was admittedly disappointing, but the runner-up up is highly progressive, and the third horse, Bow Creek, is a solid 108-rated performer, a listed race winner who finished second in the Britannia Handicap off a mark of 104. There is no reason to believe that he didn't run his race, and he was beaten three and a half lengths into third place. Also, the winning time was very good, faster than standard. This race and the Group 2 five-furlong race, won by Nunthorpe Stakes aspirant Take Cover, were the only two times that dipped below standard on the day.

Beaten on both his runs as a juvenile last year, this was Wannabe Yours' third run this term, and it was his third win. On his previous run, he had won the Doncaster handicap that his stable companion Remote won last year, and that horse went on to win the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot on his next run. That race was run on soft ground, and he won by nine lengths, so it was good to see here that he could operate at a high level on fast ground as well.

There is no telling how good Wannabe Yours could be. This was just his fifth ever race, and he has a seriously progressive profile. The talk after this race was of the Group 2 Celebration Mile back at Goodwood at the end of August, and that makes a lot of sense. He will be of interest wherever he goes next.

1st August 2014

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