Double Under The Southwell Lights

We are fast approaching the final week of the flat season which sees more attention turn to racing abroad and the all-weather becoming more prevalent. There were a couple of comfortable winners for the yard as Beauty Queen and True Promise produced a double on the evening card at Southwell.


Winning on debut, Beauty Queen announced herself as a 2yo full of promise. After a couple of runs she got right back to her best when making all in the 5f Win £1m With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Novice Stakes.

The daughter of Soldier’s Call had impressed on her debut when she bolted up at Beverley, beating a good yardstick in the process. It was a very eye catching run and looked to be a performance of a potential pattern filly. Having stayed on well on a stiff finish, Beauty Queen would step up to 6f for her next run, another novice race, this time at York. This time she showed blistering speed, going too quick to get home over the longer trip but stating that reverting back to the minimum trip may be the way forward.

Having a try at listed level, Beauty Queen ran below par when last seen at the Ebor meeting. There were no excuses so she was given time until her next run. With limited opportunities, despite holding a mark of 85, she would drop back into Novice company at Southwell. Tom Evaes was set to ride for the first time as the pair lined up against 8 rivals. Holding the highest handicap mark, Beauty Queen would also need to deny a penalty in this company.

Jumping well, she was straight into her stride and took the lead. Showing her natural speed, Beauty Queen led the field down the centre of the track, setting a scorching pace. Simplicity was the order of the day and Tom just allowed the filly to gallop, where she was happy. The pace set ensured that the field were well strung out, despite this being over the minimum trip.

There was very little to discuss throughout the race as Beauty Queen just dictated and never saw a rival. By halfway she had her rivals under pressure as they came under a drive. Tom didn’t need to move a muscle as his filly continued to turn the screw for the front. The field were beginning to to look like a finish to a middle distance race, with the 10 runners well strung out. With 1 1/2f to run, and the race at her mercy, Tom asked his filly to go and finish her race. Beauty Queen did so with ease and turned the final furlong into a precession. Nothing could go with her and Beauty Queen strode out to an easy 2 1/4 length win.

Only four urns into her carer but still it was good to see Beauty Queen back to winning ways. She looked very smart on debut and whilst it hasn’t happened yet she does still look like a filly who could be a pattern horse. Having shown that the surface is no issue there could be plenty of options on the all-weather in the future or the turf. She has blistering speed and looks like there could be plenty more to come from the 2yo.


Starting his career off in perfect style, True Promise has taken time to get his head back in front. It has been a return to the all-weather that has seen the 3yo bounce back to form and he looks like a sprinter to keep an eye on. Taking his third career win, True Promise did it well in the 6f Free Bets With BetUK Bet Club Handicap.

Having been a slow burner, True Promise made a fast start to his career. Winning on debut (6f) and then his next start (7f), the gelding was assigned a mark of 85. He was dealt some tough tasks when reverting to the turf, racing over 7f in some ultra competitive 3yo handicaps. With each run he looked to be getting faster, the more street wise he became and so the next couple of runs would be dropping back to sprinting distances.

True Promise’s form picked up when reverting back to sprinting. He would be back on the all-weather, due to the ground getting very testing, where he put in arguably his best career performance. Past form on the artificial surface opened up plenty of options for the 3yo and so he would head to Southwell to face 11 rivals. Shane Gray is the only one to win on board the chestnut and took the ride once again.

Drawn widest of all was far from ideal but with many of the field looking to be patient, Shane was able to track over. Before they got to the left handed bend, True Promise was vying for the lead, managing to get a lovely position, chasing the early pace. It was a fair gallop being set as they took the long, sweeping bend which saw the field race in quite a tight formation.

Shane got a lovely tow into the race as the leader began to wind it up around the bend. Passing halfway, jockeys were beginning to jostle for positions and get a bit closer to the front. True Promise didn’t need to worry as he was first in line to have a crack when the time came.

Kicking off the front, the leader went for home entering the straight and tried to stretch his rivals. Shane matched the move and maintained his position, sitting on the leader’s girths. As they passed the 2f marker, the pair were well situated and Shane had yet to pose any real questions. The leader looked in danger now as True Promise was growing in stature.

Taking up the lead entering the final furlong, True Promise opened up a nice cushion to the rest. He looked to be full of running and certainly was, but then he gave the rest a sniff. Edging left and then back to his right when adjusted, True Promise”s lead was beginning to get eaten in to. There were a few fast finishers but True Promise  had done enough earlier on and wasn’t stopping in front either. Dashing past the line he secured a lengthy victory, making it three for his career.

True Promise has taken a bit of time to mature and learn his racing. It seems strange to say about a horse who won his first two starts but it is different when competing in handicap company, against more experienced rivals. He is getting quicker with every run and having only started racing this year so he is likely to improve again next year. True Promise has done well in a short space of time and looks a sprinter to keep a watch of.

 

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