Result : The over around light special stakes
Time : 1:11 : 1st – 2 Canadian Gold – Pher – P. Riggs – 7-2
Settled, and travelled well at the rear of the field. Headway 3f out and went 3rd turning for home. Quickened clear under 2f out and ran on well.
+ 2-1/4 L : 2nd – 3 Fusaichi Flame – Soho – J. Bradley – 6-1
Prominent early and tracked leading pair through 3f. Challenged early straight, went 2nd final furlong, kept on well.
+ 2-1/2 L : 3rd – 5 Mrs Focker – Maltese – A. Craig – 7-5fav
Close up and narrow leader after 2 1/2f. Lengthened 2l clear rounding final bend but soon passed just over 1f out. Lost 2nd close home.
+ 6-1/4 : 4th – 1 Seven Skies – Francsoir – O. Jones – 8-1
Led at good pace on rail through first 2 furlongs. Joined 3f out and soon 4th turning for home. Faded.
+ 11-1/2 : 5th – 4 Rakida`s War – Bewitch – L. Anderson – 9-5
Struggled to go with the pace early on and dropped behind after 2f. Went last 3f out and always outpaced.
Analysis
There was plenty of pace on here and that suited Canadian Gold perfectly as she came to the fore smoothly and surged ahead with a lethal turn of foot in the closing stages. She clearly benefited from a change in tactics and, held up over this sort of trip, could still have plenty to offer in this grade.
Fusaichi Flame`s stalking style was always going to suit this type of race but, after wearing down the leaders, she could`nt cope with the winners turn of foot. She still ran a very solid race and may be nearing the good form she showed last year.
Favourite Mrs Focker struggled to get to the front from her outside draw but, once there, showed up for a long time. She still lead and had every chance turning for home but faded badly in the final furlong. She`s a game, consistent filly who is probably heading for a break.
Seven Skies was soon beaten after leading early on but the big disappointment of the race was Rakida`s war who was never travelling and was the first one beat. She is another who may be heading for a few weeks rest.