Lady Lara

Lady Lara ran a cracker to finish second to the really well-backed Token Of Love in the one-mile fillies' listed race at Haydock on Saturday. She was settled in last place through the early stages of the race by Kieren Fallon and, while the pace was fast, it still appeared to be difficult to make ground from the rear. The winner sat in third place behind the two breakaway leaders, about four lengths ahead of the main field, and five of the first six home raced close to the pace.

Lady Lara travelled well at the top of the home straight. She was just held up a little and shipped a bump from Lightning Thunder as Fallon pulled her wide to deliver her challenge but, once he did, she picked up nicely. She got past everything except Token Of Love, who found plenty in front. She did well to get past Manderley for second place, given that that filly, who had raced prominently throughout, kept on as well as she did. Richard Hannon's filly's performance added credence to the notion that that pace held up well and that it was a disadvantage to have raced in rear, as Lady Lara did. Dual Guineas runner-up Lightning Thunder, who also raced in rear, could only run on for fourth place.

This was another step forward from Lady Lara. On her previous run, the Excellent Art filly had finished fifth in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot from stall eight in a race in which the first seven home were drawn, respectively, 22, 18, 24, 20, eight, 19 and 23. That was probably a career-best, and she can progress again from Saturday's run. The handicapper has left her on her mark of 100 from Saturday, which is fair. There should be a good handicap in her off a mark of 100, but she would also be interesting returned to listed company or even in a Group 3 race against her own gender.

9th August 2014

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