Buckingham Palace Stakes Review: The future’s bright, the future’s Red…
Buckingham Palace Stakes Review: The future’s bright, the future’s Red…
Today we move onto the next race in our 2013 Royal Ascot reviews and our attention switches to the closing contest on Friday’s card; The Buckingham Palace Stakes…
Race in focus: 5.35 Ascot (21-06-2013) – Buckingham Palace Stakes (HANDICAP) 7f (27 ran)
How the race played out…
This was another race where the field split into 2 distinct groups (actually 3 groups for about a furlong); 12 stayed high up near the stands side and the other 15 stayed low. There was actually pace on both sides of the track but the high numbers had 2 runners (Shamaal Nibras & Mont Ras) vying for a clear lead as well as Dream Tune pushing closely in behind, the net result being this side were setting the strongest pace. The low numbers only really had one front-runner in the shape of Powerful Presence, a position he has not taken up in his recent runs and possibly the reason why the low numbers didn’t get into the race much. Highland Colori struggled a touch to get to the front from his wide draw and that could also be a reason for the lack of any real pace from the low stalls.
The end result…
There were a few career best’s and running close to their career best’s here so this does look like strong form.
With the high numbers dictating the pace it was the held up LIGHTNING STRIKE from stall 27 that took advantage of things and he swooped inside the final furlong to clinch the deal. The race unfolded perfectly in front of him and he was able to travel sweetly into contention and press on to a comfortable victory in the final 150yds. This was a career best performance and he has now been raised to a career high mark of 100. Second placed DREAM TUNE was right in the firing line for most of the race and was actually headed for 2nd before regaining the spot near the line. This was also a career best and he also now finds himself on a career high mark. Third placed SHAMAAL NIBRAS tried to lead his group for a bit and that maybe took its toll as he faded in the finish. Like the front 2 this was a career best and (yes, another one!) he finds himself on a career high mark. He may need the ground to soften a bit before he visits the winners enclosure again. Fourth placed SANTEFISIO was the first home from the other group and he met a bit of interference when making his run. It wouldn’t have effected his overall position but it is worth noting that he still ‘won’ on his side despite this. Again this was a career best run but he is starting to maybe look a bit held by the handicapper. Fifth home was ES QUE LOVE and this was a solid performance, albeit from the correct side of the draw. Sixth placed LOVING SPIRIT ran well from a good draw but he has only 1 win from 15 starts and although this was right up to form for him he is struggling to get his head in front. REDVERS was the next home from the far side group and 7th home overall. This was a solid run and a career best and it should be noted that he met with interference at around the 1 furlong marker. He was travelling strongly when not getting a clear passage and he looks to still be on the upgrade.
The high numbers really dominated this race with 6 of the first 8 home coming from that side. It will be no surprise to hear that I’m looking at the middle to low numbers for my BDH to follow horse…
BDH(s) to follow…
REDVERS (7th) (E Vaughan)
This 5yo was possibly travelling best of all on the far side at around the 2 furlong pole but the doors starting shutting in front of him as the others tired and jockey George Baker had to get serious on him to find the gaps. By the time he got in the clear SANTEFISIO had stolen a march and had clinched top spot on their side. He was running off a career high mark of 95 here after a comfortable victory at Haydock on his last start but he seemed to cope with that weight rise just fine and fired in a career best run on RPR figures in the process.
A look into his form tells us that he is now approaching his prime time of the year. Here are his form figures in the month of July…
Redvers form in July – 1161
3 of his 5 career wins have come in July and there is obviously something he loves about the middle of summer.
I don’t think a straight track is a necessity for him as his form when running running round a left handed bend is pretty nifty…
Form running round a left-handed bend – 32111531
He clearly handles a straight track but I would also be more than interested if he were to line up on a left-handed track as well.
He does need to overcome a career high mark of 95 but the way he ran on Saturday suggests that should not be a massive problem. He has also only had 21 starts on turf so there should be room for some improvement still to come.
Conditions – Ideally we will be looking for a prime target for him in July. Ground wise I want at least Good ground for him. Other than that I think we can be fairly flexible although it goes without saying that if he is on a straight track we want him where the pace is at.
REDVERS now enters my Proform ‘Horse Watcher’ tool (horse tracker in other words) and I will post on the Blog when he is due to run next.
The BDH war chest is growing nicely and I still have a couple of others up my sleeve from Royal Ascot yet to come.
To view previous BDH Blog entries then please visit www.badlydrawnhorse.com
Ben (BDH)
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