Race To Watch / Timeform / 24 June 2009 / Leave a comment

Plenty of talent to follow from this Listed Ascot race.

This race is framed for non-pattern winners but it was still a very strong field, the depth of smart rivals making it certainly of Group standard. The pair who came clear look very useful and others behind have proved or will prove themselves as similarly talented. A frenetic early pace accounted for several failures by fancied runners, including the favourite Freemantle.

The winner, Glass Harmonium, had shown plenty of promise previous to this and he fulfilled it in style here. He was held up off the strong pace and quickened impressively when asked by his jockey, Ryan Moore. The way he stayed on strongly to the line suggested that there should be no problem with a step up to a mile-and-a-half and he is likely to go on to much better things.

The runner-up, Cashelgar, produced an excellent effort and is blooming into a very smart colt with the ability to go all the way to the top. He deserves extra credit for racing a lot closer to a strong early pace than the winner and he had a penalty for his reappearance success at Saint Cloud. The French raider was still going strongly two furlongs out and was battling back as the pair powered away before he was tightened against the rail when Glass Harmonium hung as he hit the front. He has at least as much potential as the winner and is sure to progress from this.

Further down the field there were excuses for some of the leading fancies who were a shade disappointing. The favourite, Freemantle, is a [100.0] shot for the Irish Derby but still has the potential to be much better than this Ascot performance. He was encountering ground firmer than good for the first time and that, along with the fact he perhaps overdid things in front, are possible excuses.

Michael Bell's Four Winds finished sixth and he deserves another chance to establish himself at this level. He got little chance to find his stride here as he was pocketed three furlongs out when travelling well and then hampered by the winner just as he got going. He may well be suited by a mile-and-a-half in the future.