Bet365 Classic Trial |
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| Group 3, Sandown Park 14:20 £65,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 2f 7y, Class 1  |
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| Friday 22nd April 2016 | |
1 Midterm 8/11F
2 Algometer 12/1
3 High Grounds 4/1
NR: Ventura Storm (IRE)
6 ran Distances: 1½l, 8l, ½l
TIME 2m 11.11s (slow by 5.61s)
Midterm gets up with a gutsy performance at Sandown, the front two pulling well clear of 3rd
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The immaculately-bred son of Galileo, out of his owner Khaled Abdullah's six-times Group One winner Midday, travelled nicely under Ryan Moore, but having edged to the front over a furlong out, he found a stubborn opponent in the David Simcock-trained Algometer.
Briefly it seemed as if a fightback might be on the cards as Midterm struggled to put the race to bed, but eventually the winner showed his undoubted class to get on top by a length and a half, the pair pulling a notable eight lengths ahead of third-home High Grounds.
"I thought it was a really professional performance," Moore told Channel 4 Racing.
"We went a good, even pace and he travelled nicely. I always felt like he was in control. He was a little bit green coming up the hill, but every time I asked him he kept responding.
"He doesn't do much - he seems to save his best for when he comes to the track - but you'd be very happy with what he's done today.
"He's a very neat horse and a very good mover. He's certainly bred to do the job.
"There's a few more trials to be seen and there's a lot of horses we haven't seen yet, so it's early days, but this horse has done absolutely nothing wrong."
SkyBet cut the winner from 8/1 to 6/1 in their Investec Derby betting and the successful trainer Sir Michael Stoute confirmed Epsom could be on the cards, subject to him getting further experience in one of the Derby trials at either Chester or York.
Stoute said: "I was pleased, because he doesn't work well at home. He wouldn't beat a decent maiden, he hasn't done an impressive piece of work yet. That was the same last year. He's lazy at home.
"But he's such a beautiful athlete with a great pedigree that's he got so many credentials, and we went just hoping he'd run well at Newbury [first time out] when we felt he was ready for a race.
"He's not changed in his work this year, but he showed here that he really travels. He travelled very well but go to the front and pricked his ears. But he's never been in a race on a turning track before.
"We'll go for one of the trials now, either Chester or York. We'll work it out."
SkyBet spokesman Michael Shinners explained the firm's decision to trim Midterm's odds for a Derby that features an unusually wide-open betting market.
"The front two pulled well clear in what looked a fair race on paper and although he would need to improve again in one of the forthcoming trials, he looked a horse with plenty of potential and he's clearly in the right hands," he said.
However, Epsom is unlikely to be on the agenda for runner-up Algometer, Simcock saying: "I think it would be the wrong track for him, but the Irish Derby might be a possibility especially as he appreciates some cut in the ground and could be more likely to get it there - whatever, though, he's a nice horse to look forward to for the next couple of years."
Bet365 Classic Trial
£65,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 2f 7y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (5) | Midterm 8/11f | R L Moore 9-1 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 3 | |
| 2nd | (2) | 1½ | Algometer 12/1 | Jim Crowley 9-1 |
D M Simcock | 3 |
| 3rd | (7) | 8 | High Grounds (IRE) 4/1 | D Holland 9-1 |
C Hills | 3 |
| 4th | (4) | ½ | Palawan 20/1 | P J Dobbs 9-1 |
R Hannon | 3 |
| 5th | (6) | 4½ | Dwight D 14/1 | J P Spencer 9-1 |
W J Haggas | 3 |
| 6th | (1) | 4 | Ode To Evening 8/1 | James Doyle 9-1 |
M Johnston | 3 |
| NR | (3) | Ventura Storm (IRE) 4/1 | L Dettori 9-1 |
R Hannon | 3 |
