Features / Timeform / 21 June 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Timeform share their Perspective entires on the Hardwicke Stakes, in which Harbinger cemented his status as a major contender for the top mile and a half races...

"HARBINGER continued his rise, making it three from three for the season and showing he's well and truly ready to take on the very best, amongst them himself in fact after this top-class effort, and, with everything coming to him just as easily as before, there remains potential for a bit better still"

An above-average Hardwicke in terms of the winner's performance, Harbinger showing top-class form to justify favouritism easily, the effort of the runner-up more in line with a typical renewal, and the fact they pulled so far clear is reason to be positive, for all that below-par runs from a few others takes some substance away from the race as a whole. Barshiba ensured a good gallop and there was only minor trouble.

HARBINGER continued his rise, making it three from three for the season and showing he's well and truly ready to take on the very best, amongst them himself in fact after this top-class effort, and, with everything coming to him just as easily as before, there remains potential for a bit better still. A big, imposing colt who was in excellent shape, Harbinger cruised through as things took shape from four furlongs out and showed a sharp turn of foot to quickly hit the front approaching the two furlong pole, in full control thereafter. The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the likeliest next step and will be his first acid test, likely up against Derby winning stablemate Workforce for one, but there's every reason to expect another big effort, now proven at the track as well.

DUNCAN gave a reminder that he is a high-class colt on his day, the good gallop at a track where he's won before ideal, no match for Harbinger but full value for a decisive beating of the rest, passing them all in the straight. He isn't one to be taking short prices about in lesser races, however, as there's no doubting his quirks, already evident behind Barshiba this season.

BARSHIBA is vulnerable in most Group 2s, certainly amongst the colts, but she can be trusted a lot more these days and showed she remains in form back on firmer ground, doing well to last as long as she did having set a good gallop, headed only approaching two furlongs out and not giving in.

SANS FRONTIERES has been brought back steadily this term, returning to his smart three-year-old level here but leaving the impression there's a bigger run in him yet, all along having shaped like more of a stayer, and the way he saw this out up in trip suggests he's ready for at least a mile and three quarters, stopped briefly as he was winding up and seeming to give his all despite a slightly awkward head carriage. Incidentally, he was wearing a tongue strap.

REDWOOD was back to himself returned to firmish ground, not quite matching his reappearance but in stronger company, and he didn't have the hardest of races, seeing out the extra two furlongs for mainly hands and heels having been waited with as usual.

CROWDED HOUSE proved in Dubai that he's capable of very smart form still but it's time his temperament was questioned, never having delivered on early promise, blinkers thought necessary here, edgy in the preliminaries and giving in quite easily once the pressure was on in the race, seemingly more to it than just lack of stamina.

PETARA BAY is best at a mile and three quarters and beyond nowadays, whilst listed level is more suitable.

WAJIR failed to come on as expected from York, disappointing once the pace increased even with a run behind him, and it may be that firmish ground is unsuitable, never having raced on it prior to this season (acts on heavy).

JUKEBOX JURY was up against it with his Group 1 penalty, though that's no excuse for such a poor effort, most likely finding it too soon after Epsom.

CLAREMONT's visor worked to some extent first time but he wasn't interested here and is essentially one to be wary of.

SOUTH EASTER was eased as if amiss.

Tags: Barshiba, Duncan, Harbinger, Hardwicke Stakes, Royal Ascot