Midnite Bride Picks Up Where She Left Off

Rising up through the ranks and creeping up the handicap is always great to see but there is always the question of when the upward ascent may come to end. Having seen her handicap mark rise from 55 to to 72, Midnote Bride rounded 2020 in great form by winning her last two starts. She has to wait 6 months before the hat-trick bid but it was worth waiting for as she took the 7f williamhill.com Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap at Ayr on her return to the track. 

Kodiac is renowned for speed and precocious juveniles. Midnite Bride didn’t fit the mould in that sense but the has certainly began to show that there is an engine underneath the bonnet. Owned and bred by Mr Rahman, she only started her career a year ago with two steady runs which did not light any fires. Her two mid field runs saw an opening mark of 55, which would prove to be about right as she racked up three second placed efforts over 6/7f. Having crept up 5lbs she then put in a poor run to ease back down to 59 but was also becoming a little frustrating. Midnite Bride needed to prove she could win off that mark, something she did twice at the end of the season. Both times winning over 7f and with a bit in hand, Midnite Bride had really kickstarted her career and suddenly looked like a filly that could improve with time. 

Only 6 months of racing under her belt, Midnite Bride had the scope for improvement moving forward but would be set a tougher task with her handicap mark now touching 72. Looking like she had grown and strengthened over the winter, connections were keen to get her back out on the track and she was ready to go early on in the season. Sticking to 7f she headed up to Ayr for her first run of the season with Kevin Stott taking the ride.

Seven runners would line up for the contest and Midnite Bride was probably the most intriguing runner as the one most likely to improve. Despite her potential punters went for a horse that could be well handicapped and so Midnite Bride would go off second fav. Initially there looked to be a reluctance to go forward and it left Kevin looking round for his rivals. Wanting cover he had a tight hold on the reins but quickly sensing a muddling pace, the fav and one other rival darted forward allowing Midnite Bride to tuck into third place and shift over to the rail. Eventually after a furlong the race settled down with the 7 runners almost in the single file and a sensible gallop being set. 

Down the back straight the pace did quicken as the blinkered leader racing a little keen. It was nothing silly but did get the runners to stretch out. Ayr has a long straight so it meant that the field were quickly into the left handed bend that would bring them for home. There was still over a mile to run and very little changed in the field as they swung around and began to enter the straight. Despite the long run for home the speed the leaders exited the bend shot them a little further clear and the pace did increase. It meant that the field were going to have to see out the trip well. For a few stride Kevin just had to squeeze his filly along to ensure she went with the leader and didn’t cede any ground to them. 

The front runners were winding it up from the 3f marker and one by one their rivals had to follow suit. Having been the first to make a move, Kevin loved the increase in the tempo and came to the 2f pole swinging with a double handful. Whilst his colleagues were now into their drive, Kevin saved energy as Midnite Bride took him there to lay down a challenge. The favourite had taken the lead and was working hard on the front end, responding to his jockey’s urgings. 

Cool and calculated Kevin had brought his filly to the fore with patience but now he could see that his main rival was not going to just hand him the race. Cajoling now had to change as they moved into the final furlong and Kevin posed the question to Midnite Bride. The filly responded but he presence had alerted the fav who found more under pressure. They had a small break over the rest as Kevin now asked Midnite Bride to go and pick up the leader. It had looked like a formality but now there was a test as the leader continued to find. With both jockeys in full drive and 100 yards to run the gap was slowly closing but Midnite Bride was in a battle. She was tough and the head got lower as she found extra. With a small burst as the winning post loomed she snatched the lead away and continued to gallop to the line and secure a hat-trick of wins.

This was the highest grade of race Midnite Bride has competed in so far off her highest handicap mark so she deserves a lot of credit for the win. Having travelled powerfully into contention she showed a good attitude to go and win the race, seeing out the 7f very well. She has always shown quite a bit of speed which suggested that she may be able to drop to 6f but on this evidence it would seem as though a step up in trip could be more suitable. Midnite Bride will certainly come on for the run so to get her head in front was a very good performance. The handicapper will be reassessing again and it will be interesting to seesaw he views this performance. One thing for sure is that Midnite Bride is still improving in just her second year.