Sandown Saturday

KURIOUS got a mention in dispatches here last month after winning the Listed Scurry Stakes over the course and distance at 6/1, and she again showed both her liking for Sandown, and her progressive nature by landing the Coral Charge from Garrus (James Doyle), making his debut for Charlie Hills, and the Mick Appleby-trained Caspian Prince (Oisin Murphy).

Harry Bentley was taking over from Kieran Shoemark on Henry Candy’s filly. It’s worth reiterating that two of the filly’s half-brothers, Tangerine Trees and Alpha Delphini, have won Group 1 sprints, and this filly is ahead of that pair in terms of her development at the same stage.

She is proving an able flag-bearer for her sire, Clongiffen Stud’s Kuroshio.

Reported to do much of her training in the swimming pool, her trainer cited courage as her major asset beyond pure ability, and is confident than she can live up to the exploits of her older siblings.

The Listed Coral Distaff went to the gambled-on Hidden Message (9/4 favourite under Oisin Murphy) for William Haggas in the Qatar Racing silks.

She had the run of the race tracking the Frankie Dettori-ridden Muchly, and was always repelling the late challenge of the former Noel Meade-trained filly Encapsulation who produced a strong late run under Jim Crowley but needed to have got in the clear earlier to make it count.

The latter, formerly with Noel Meade, is proven over farther and on softer ground, and looks the one to take from the race. The daughter of Zoffany looks an excellent purchase for Barbara Keller, and is sure to pay her way in pattern company for her new connections.

Pulsating finish

Falcon Eight (10/11 favourite) and Mekong served up another pulsating finish in the Listed Coral Marathon under Dettori and Moore respectively, with the former, a Dermot Weld-trained son of Galileo, going some way to justify his trainer’s opinion of him, and providing another blacktype winner in the famous Moyglare Stud colours of Eva Bucher-Haefner.

Once again, Sir Michael Stoute had to settle for place money on the day with Mekong, and the pair pulled well clear of Cleonte (Oisin Murphy) in third to underline that this is strong form for the grade.

Experience

The winning trainer explained that he felt that Falcon Eight lacked the experience to head to Ascot for the Gold Cup, with son and assistant Kris earmarking this race as a suitable alternative.

“We’ll see how he comes out of this race, and talk to Eva, but he’ll probably run three more times this season. He’s an improving colt, but I’m in no hurry with him – I look forward to training him for a couple of years to come,” said Weld.

He then added with a smile: “There’s a big race in this horse, but it might be next year.”

Patience is a virtue which Dermot Weld has in abundance, and while he has a long way to go, it would be no surprise to see Falcon Eight develop into a Melbourne Cup, or even a Gold Cup horse in the next year, and he’s certainly something to look forward to.