Heatstroke
Heatstroke did well to finish as close as he did in fourth place in the one-mile handicap at Sandown last Thursday evening.
A little warm beforehand, Charlie Hills' horse travelled well in rear through his race. They went a fast pace, Jacob Black ensured that, and they were well stretched out from early, but Sandown is generally a track at which prominent racers do well, and the first two home here, Jailawi and Chevallier, both raced in the group of seven that broke clear around the home turn.
Heatstroke was second last of the 14 runners as they turned for home, and fully 12 lengths behind the leader. He picked up from there, however, he threaded his way through runners up the home straight and, while it never really looked like he was going to get to the front two, he ran all the way to the line to take fourth place.
This was a really encouraging run from Fitri Hay's colt on just his third every run. He won on his second attempt as a juvenile, he sprang a 16/1 surprise in a one-mile Kempton maiden in October 2014, after which he had been off the track. Thursday's run was his first run in 17 months.
He has obviously had his issues, but hopefully they are behind him now and, if they are, he is an exciting colt. A full-brother to the recently ill-fated The Corsican, who was high-class over 10 and 12 furlongs, and to Deauville, who was only beaten a neck by Wings Of Desire in this year's Dante, Heatstroke should progress now for this run, and for a step up in trip, to 10 furlongs at least. He should also do better now at a track that suits hold-up horses more like Ascot. It it interesting that his trainer thought enough of him to enter him in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. That may be flying a bit high, but it is at least an indication of the regard in which he is held, and he will be of big interest now in a good 10-furlong handicap off his mark of 87.
26th May 2016
Back