Society Lion
Society Lion was impressive in winning the seven-furlong three-year-olds' handicap. He was a little wider than ideal from his wide draw, he never really got in, he was three wide all the way around the home turn, and he was keener than ideal, but he travelled really well through his race for Ryan Moore, up on the outside of Homespin and King Ragnar. His rider started to squeeze home along on the run to the two-furlong marker and, while the response wasn't instantaneous, he did pick up impressively on the run to the furlong marker, and he stayed on well through the final 150 yards to win nicely. Runner-up Mister Snowden didn't have an ideal path through, but it is very difficult to argue that the best horse in the race didn't win it.
It was a really likeable performance by Sir Michael Stoute's colt. Runner-up to the progressive Tiger Crusade at Doncaster on his previous run, this was a nice step forward, racing off a 5lb higher mark. The handicapper raised him by another 5lb for this, but this was just his fifth run, he won with plenty in hand, and he remains progressive. He will be of interest now in another seven-furlong handicap, or he could step up to listed class and, a half-brother to middle-distance horse Derevo, and with plenty of stamina in his pedigree, he could step back up in trip to a mile if and when he learns to settle a little better.
Goodwood, 1st August 2020
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