Mizzou

Mizzou put up a nice performance to win the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on Wednesday. Settled back in the field through the early stages of the race by William Buick behind a fast pace that was set by Forever Now, he picked up from early in the home straight, and he stayed on really well to come past Vent De Force and Forever now, going away to win by three lengths.

The race may not have taken as much winning as it might have, given that Tac De Boistron and High Jinx were scratched on the morning of the race, presumably because of the worry of fast ground. Indeed, the ground was a worry for Luca Cumani also for Mizzou. The trainer said afterwards that his horse wouldn't have wanted it any faster. The short home straight was also a worry, it wasn't a help to him when he went down by two short heads to Big Orange and Marzocco in a 14-furlong listed race at Ascot in October. He is a real stayer, a galloper rather than a quickener. so the step up to two miles on Wednesday helped him in that regard, as did the fast early pace.

By Galileo out of a Darshaan mare, Mizzou was a really nicely progressive stayer last season. He won his maiden over a mile and a half on soft ground at Pontefract, a stiff track, on just his second ever run last July, then he won two handicaps, over 12 furlongs and 14 furlongs, off marks of 85 and 89 respectively, before he lined up in that listed race at Ascot in October. He stepped forward again there to finish a close-up third, the first three clear.

Wednesday's run was another step forward. The race may have been weakened, but the winning time was good, 0.13secs/furlong slower than standard and a course record for the distance. He should be able to continue to progress now, he could morph into an Ascot Gold Cup candidate. Certainly, the extra half-mile could bring about further improvement, although fast ground at the Royal meeting would be a worry. In the meantime, the Henry VIII Stakes at Sandown is an ideal target. They can get soft ground at that meeting, and if it comes up on the easy side this year, Mizzou will be of big interest.

29th April 2015

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