Here Comes When

Here Comes When ran a cracker to finish sixth in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday on ground that really should have been too fast for him.. Steadied out of the gate and held up out the back in a race that was run to suit those horses who raced handily, Andrew Balding's horse was a little keener than ideal through the early stages of the race, yet he was probably travelling best of all passing the three-furlong pole. He moved up nicely on the far side at that point, and looked set to deliver a challenge, but he just couldn't match the pace at that point of Night Of Thunder, who moved across in front of him to secure the far rail. Here Comes When didn't have to break stride, but that manoeuvre by the winner wasn't ideal for him, and he was running on again a little at the end when Jim Crowley moved him back off the rail.

It was still a fine effort from Andrew Balding's horse to finish sixth in this Group 1 contest. And this was a hot Lockinge, the heightened prize money attracting just about all of the top milers in Britain. Also, he was held up in a race that was run to suit the prominent racers. The first four home all raced handily from early, they occupied four of the first five positions from the six-furlong pole.

Here Comes When is developing into a high-class performer. He progressed significantly last year as a four-year-old, winning three of his five races, including a Group 2 race over seven furlongs on soft ground in Germany, and the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket, also over seven. He does get a mile well, however, and he can progress again from this run, as he progressed from his seasonal debut at Sandown. He will be of big interest any time there is at least a little bit of an ease in the ground, and he could win a Group 1 race on soft ground.

16th May 2015

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