My Dream Boat

My Dream Boat can be marked up at least a little on the bare form of his run to finish second to Grand Inquisitor in the seven-furlong three-year-olds' handicap at Sandown on Saturday.

Settled in mid-division and along the inside rail by Adam Kirby through the early stages of the race, he was a little keen as they started to turn around the final bend, with the result that his rider had to take him back a little off Classic Win's heels.

That minor incident meant that he was probably a little further back than his rider would have wanted as they straightened up for home, so he had to get after him a little at the top of the home straight. Back on the bridle passing the three-furlong pole, he picked up again on the run to the two-furlong pole, but he was racing on the far side with a wall of horses in front of him. As he was charting his way among horses, Ryan Moore was bringing Grand Inquisitor with an unchecked run down the outside. Sir Michael Stoute's horse had gone from two lengths behind My Dream Boat to three lengths in front of him by the time Clive Cox's horse got out into the clear. When he did, they had left the furlong pole behind them, but he picked up well and ran all the way to the line, running Grand Inquisitor to three parts of a length and pulling four lengths clear of the third horse.

Winner at Doncaster on his debut this season off a mark of 76 on his first run for Clive Cox, the Lord Shanakill colt ran well in defeat behind Enlace and King To Be at Goodwood at the end of May off a mark of 84, and he stepped forward from that again here. The handicapper has raised him 7lb to a mark of 91, but this was just his sixth ever run, and he retains lots of scope for progression. This seven-furlong trip suits him well, and he seems to go well on easy ground as well as in these faster conditions.

13th June 2015

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