Shell Bay
They appeared to go fast enough through the early stages of the Shergar Cup Classic over a mile and a half at Ascot on Saturday, but the horses who raced in second and third, Triple Dip and Quest For Wonder, finished third and fourth, so it is difficult to argue that the hold up horses were advantaged. On the contrary, it may be that Shell Bay did well to win from the position in which he found himself.
In mid-division from flagfall, Richard Hannon's horse found himself in third last place as they rounded the home turn. Switched to the far side by Sammy-Jo Bell, he picked up nicely, went bravely through the gaps, and saw his race out really well to get home by three parts of a length from Perestroika, the pair of them nicely clear.
Shell Bay has a really nice progressive profile now. He only recorded his first victory in late June this year at Newbury, in a Class 5 one-mile handicap off a mark of 69, but he has progressed with each of his three runs now since then, stepped up in trip. On his last run before Saturday, he finished a good third behind the talented pair Tashaar and Rhythmical in an 11-furlong handicap at Glorious Goodwood off a mark of 74, and this was another step forward off a mark of 78. The handicapper raised him 5lb for this, but that is fair. He will be of interest now in a better class race over Saturday's distance of a mile and a half. This was his first time attempting the trip, and he appeared to improve again for it.
8th August 2015
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