Mondialiste

Mondialiste put up a really good performance to finish second in the Lincoln on Saturday, racing off a mark of 105 in his first handicap, and carrying 9st 5lb.

Settled towards the rear of the field through the early stages of the race, David O'Meara's horse made nice progress from the three-furlong pole on the far side, and he struck the front just inside the two-furlong marker. He looked a likely winner at that point, he looked strong in front, but Gabrial also picked up well on the near side, joined Mondialiste inside the final furlong, and just proved the stronger of the two on the run to the line.

It was still a fine performance by the runner-up. Perhaps if he had had Gabrial to chase instead of the other way around, he may have gone closer. But the winner is good, he was well readied for this race by Richard Fahey, the front two pulled nicely clear, and the winning time was good, the fastest comparative time on the card.

This was Mondialiste's first run for David O'Meara. A 150/1 third in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat in 2013 as a three-year-old when with Freddy Head, he won a conditions race over a mile at Saint-Cloud last May on his final run for Head before he was sold out of the yard for €190,000. He did not look leniently handicapped on his French form on a mark of 105 for his British debut, but it looks like he has improved since joining O'Meara, and he should be well able to cope with a hike of another 5lb for Saturday's run if he stays down the handicap route. He could be better than a handicapper now though.

Interestingly, O'Meara's horses did not appear to be in brilliant form going into Saturday's racing but, as well as Mondialiste's fine run, he also had a winner at Doncaster, and he had another winner on Sunday at Doncaster and another on Tuesday at Southwell. This was Mondialiste's first run since last May, so it is reasonable to expect that he will progress again for it. He is five, but he has raced just nine times in his life, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next. He does hold entries in Group 3 races at The Curragh and Leopardstown in early May, and he will be of interest if he takes his chance in either of those.

28th March 2015

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