Timeform Race Review: Snitterfield Maiden Stakes

Race To Watch / Timeform / 15 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

This race, which touch place at Warwick on the 13th of April, was a potentially strong maiden and it produced a fairly useful performance from winner Maxwell Hawke; but the race was full of horses who should do much better in handicaps, and although the pace was slow, plenty of winners should emerge in the future.

Maxwell Hawke had confidence behind him and erased memory of a disappointing start as a two-year-old, looking the type who'll continue to progress as he learns the ropes. He was handily placed here but still looked green as he gradually got on top in the final furlong. After just two runs, he certainly has more to offer and with expected progression he could prove useful. His breeding suggests he will prove best up to a mile but based on this run where he raced freely and showed plenty of speed; it could be that his future lies at sprint distances rather than at a mile.

Third home Mister Fantastic shaped with promise and should be followed in handicaps. He wasn't ideally suited by the modest gallop given that he's bred to be suited by further than this. He should have room to manoeuvre from his handicap mark and is a likely future winner when upped in trip.

Fifth-placed North Cape is a sure-fire future handicap winner. Having his third run, he got going too late having been set plenty to do. He's bred to be suited by further than this seven-furlong trip and is one to keep on the right side in the future.

African Cheetah was far from disgraced in sixth and is better than the bare result. Another that will come into his own over further, Mark Johnston's colt was not seen to best effect around this sharp course. Like on his debut, he took an age to get going and was not suited by the slow pace. He looks well up to winning a maiden.

Eighth home Cabernet Sauvignon should be sharper for this, his seasonal reappearance, and he should fare better next time. He bred to need at least a mile and should start life in handicaps off a fair mark.

Wellesley, the ninth home, was far from disgraced. Having his third run, he was not given an overly hard time and should be seen to better effect in handicaps. He's not sure to be suited by further than this trip and may even prove better at shorter.