Noozoh Canarias

Noozhoh Canarias did really well to last as long as he did in front in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Sunday. Sent immediately to the front from his draw in stall 11 of 15 by Christophe Soumillon, he easily bounded into a clear lead in a field that contained several front-runners. Once there, he travelled easily around the first turn, and he was still going easily and was over two lengths clear when they levelled up for home. Two lengths clear as they passed the two-furlong pole, Soumillon was still motionless as, one by one, the other horses came off the bridle. Noozhoh Canarias did pick up from the front when his rider asked him to, and passing the furlong pole it looked like he might hold on, but he was caught and passed by Olympic Glory 50 yards from the line, and he conceded second place to Gordon Lord Byron a couple of yards from the winning line.

This was a huge run. The Spanish-bred colt was able to sit easily in front at a blistering pace. Indeed, the pace was so strong that Olympic Glory, who was being ridden along, a detached last, after they had gone a furlong, was able to come through to win a little cosily in the end, while Vorda, who was second last early on, finished well down the outside to finish a close-up fourth, the first four clear. We know that he has bundles of pace, we saw it in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, and we saw it again when he led the far side group early on in the July Cup. Moved to Carlos Laffon-Parias after that, he was disappointing on his first run for his new trainer in a Group 3 race over seven furlongs at Longchamp in early September, which is probably why he was allowed go off a 20/1 shot for Sunday's race. He hasn't won now since March, but this run was a reminder of his ability and his pace. He has form on soft ground, but he is probably at his best on good or fast ground, and he would be interesting now dropped back down to six furlongs. He could be a serious sprinter next season.

5th October 2014

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