Another Wise Kid

Another Wise Kid was one of the main horses to take out of the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon on Saturday.

Fast out of the gate from stall 19 on the unfavoured stands side, Graham Lee quickly restrained him and got him settled back among horses against the stands rail. Still on the bridle but well back in the field passing the two-furlong pole, he moved off the rail in order to get a run. He did get a gap a furlongs and a half out, and Lee pushed him through it, but he didn't really get after his horse until they had passed the furlong markers. When he did, Another Wise Kid picked up well and closed on Spinatrix all the way to the line. He didn't quite get to Spinatrix, so he finished fourth on the near side and sixth overall, but was only beaten a total of a length, and he appeared to have plenty left to give when he crossed the winning line. Also, he was the only horse who raced in rear on the near side who was involved at the finish. All the others - Spinatrix, Pipers Note, Kimberella and Tatlisu - all raced handily.

Paul Midgley's horse is six years old now, and this was his 42nd race, so he shouldn't have that many secrets from anybody, but his last three runs have been the best of his life, and he may not be finished improving yet. All his best form had been over five furlongs, but he got the sixth furlong well when he went down by just a short head to Pipers Note over Saturday's course and distance on his last run before Saturday. He had the winner of Saturday's race, Out Do, two lengths behind him in third place, while Pipers Note finished fifth in Saturday's race. It is strong form.

Now that connections know that Another Wise Kid stays six furlongs well, he can perhaps be asked for his effort a little earlier next time. He doesn't need to be held up. When he won at Pontefract in mid-July over a stiff five furlongs, he made just about all the running. He has good form on soft ground and he is by soft ground influence Whipper, so he will be of interest as we move into the autumn and onto soft ground.

16th August 2014

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