Profile – Lexington Abbey

With three wins in the race, Kevin knows exactly what it takes to win the Ayr Gold Cup and he will be hopeful of a fourth this year with Lexington Abbey. The talented and consistent sprinter has been improving throughout his formative years and now looks like the finished article, capable of taking a big prize within the sprinting division. He has already taken his owners to some big meetings, but now as a 5 year old he looks likely to make a noise in the very best races. 

The Start

It was Kevin and Steve who found the Sleeping Indian Colt at the DBS sales and immediately he took the eye, a strong and athletic looking individual he looked the ideal sprinting type by a young stallion who had the potential of taking off. Fortunately he also ticked the boxes of Middleham Park who snapped up the colt immediately after the hammer dropped. 

As the work started in preparing him for his racing career, Lexington Abbey grew and progressed well, looking likely to be a sprinter who would be seen in the earlier parts of the season. He had shown enough in his work to suggest there was quite a bit of ability in him and Kevin was looking forward to getting him to the racecourse. Just as he was ready for a run a couple of hold ups suddenly scuppered all plans. The usual problems with juveniles arose as Lexington Abbey went through a growth spurt, meaning he went a little weak and forcing Kevin to back off him until he matured again. 

It took Lexi a little longer than expected but he finally made his debut in August. Kevin had found a median auction maiden and was confident of a positive run. He was right to be confident as Lexi showed a very professional attitude, leading the field for 5 of the 6 furlongs before weakening and tiring. It was a very good fourth place on debut and had connections already excited for his next run. 

There was a month before his next run, which came at Ayr during the Gold Cup meeting. There was a positive feeling from all connections everyone felt Lexi could take the step forward and challenge for the win on just his second start. All went well, he jumped well again, he tracked the leaders and then he moved through, on the bridle and looking like the winner. Unfortunately the ground was very soft and this proved a big stumbling block, sapping the energy from Lexi who couldn’t go through it. It was another positive run and he finished fifth but Kevin knew that he would be winning very soon, he just needed the right race and the right ground. 

The third run for Lexi was his last of the season but it was worth the wait as he recorded his first career win in decisive fashion. It was another 6f maiden but this time at Nottingham, a track that lends itself to speed. Neil Callan was on board and having seen his previous two runs knew exactly what to do. Lexi had shown plenty of speed and Neil utilised this. The pair bounced out an never saw another rival. Lexi free-wheeled throughout the race, easily leading the field along the stands side rail. He cruised through the first 5f, as he had done in both his previous races, and was hard on the bridle whilst the rest were flat to the boards. With a little urging from Neil, Lexi quickened up inside the final furlong and put the race to bed. It was a decisive victory, the winning margin of 1 3/4 lengths was impressive but it could have easily been further. 

It was great to get a win under the belt and immediately after the race all were agreed that it was enough for the year. Kevin felt he had a nice horse on his hands and there was no point in rushing anything, with a winter on his back Lexi could develop into a smart sprinter. 

Heading to the start ready for his first win at Nottingham

3 Year Old Season

When you have a prospect of a nice 3 year old sprinter it makes planning the season ahead a lot easier. There are plenty of high profile 3yo handicaps at the big meetings and this was the route Kevin was looking down. 

After his win at Nottingham, the handicapper had given Lexi a mark of 85. It was fair, on the face of all his form it matched up to what he had done. This did start to change during his pre-season preparations. Lexi’s work was very good and it suddenly looked as though he might be well handicapped. The plan was simple in thinking, win a race or two so his mark is high enough then aim for the big 3yo handicaps. What is simple thinking can prove difficult to put into action and so it happened.

Seasonal debut was in April at Doncaster and despite it being his first run, there was an air of confidence running through connections. Kevin had made no secret of Lexi’s work and he told Middleham Park Racing how highly he rated their now 3 year old. 

The race panned out the same as his three previous, jumping smartly and leading the field throughout the contest. Lexi showed all the speed he had done as a juvenile and travelled supremely well. He showed how well he can move at such high speeds and towed a decent field through the first half of the race. He got slightly headed at halfway but was still on the premises and held every chance. With 1f left to run he looked a big danger but then he just ran out of steam. With it being his first run there was a little early season race rust. He tried and he stayed on but it was one paced as he just got a little tired in the latter stages. It was a promising run and afterwards Kevin felt that it would put him 100% pot on for the season ahead. 

His next three runs really didn’t go to plan. Hamilton was the next port of call and it looked a race that he could win. After racing too free, Lexi got unbalanced coming down the hill and just never landed a blow. So it was back to a more conventional track, Haydock, with what looked an ideal race. Keen once again, Lexi towed the field along but then as the race developed he ended up racing on his own. He paid for the early exertions and also bumped into a very good horse as the winner strode clear. Disappointed but not deterred connections then  turned their attention to Chester. As the declarations  came out Lexi was handed a draw of 8 out of 10. With plenty of speed drawn low everyone knew that it was a nearly impossible task from that draw. So it proved. 

Lexington Abbey hadn’t quite lived up to expectations, faith wasn’t lost but disappointment was starting to show. Kevin continued with his confident views but it was frustrating that the plan hadn’t worked out so far. Lexi was still held in high regard but was going to have to start showing it soon.

His first and only career win, so far, had been at Nottingham and it was back to that venue for his fourth start of the year. He had shown so much speed through the season that Kevin had decided now to drop him back to 5f. Despite the drop in trip, Lexi still managed to get to the front of the field, tracking the early pace. Using his natural cruising speed, Lexi travelled smoothly and was into a lovely rhythm. The race was run at a frantic pace but this didn’t affect Lexi and he looked to relish the challenge. By halfway, Lexi and the other leaders had the rest of the field hard at it, struggling to keep up with the strong gallop. James Doyle was in the saddle but he was a passenger in this race. Lexi moved into the lead smoothly and was hard on the bridle coming inside the final 2f, whilst the rest were being pushed along. At the 1f marker James decided to give his mount a squeeze and Lexi continued to up the tempo. It was a hands and heels ride as Lexington Abbey strode out to a decisive 3/4 length victory and repay the faith shown in him by all connections. 

It was a big boost for everyone to finally see Lexington Abbey get his head back in front and it left a positive outlook for the rest of the year. Following that win he was the model of consistency over 5f, 5 1/2f and 6f. Lexi went to York on his next start and finished a close fourth in a very competitive handicap. This was followed up by 3 straight seconds, one being at Ripon and then two at York. Only 4 lengths had cost him 3 straight wins and Lexi had shown that he was back to his best, back to being consistent and with his recent form, back to a mark that he should be at. 

The Ayr Gold Cup has improved in quality so much in recent years that it is now looking more like a group race. The handicap mark that is seeing horses get into the race is now at the top end of the 90’s which just shows the quality. Fortunately there is the consolation of the Silver and Bronze Cups. Kevin had long been aiming Lexi for Ayr and with his mark of 87, it was the Silver cup that was the race. It is extremely difficult for 3 year olds to compete in the big handicaps unless they are very good and although it wasn’t the Gold Cup, the Silver looked just as competitive. 

In his previous race at York, Jamie Spencer had managed to do something no other jockey had done so far, he managed to settle Lexington Abbey. Now with a big field in front of him, this could prove to be the key. It was and Lexi ran a blinder to finish fifth in a very competitive and physical race. After being bumped at the start, Lexi had been shuffled back further than Pat (Smullen) had wanted. The gaps didn’t appear until late and Lexi had quickened well to finish late and fast. Pat was extremely complimentary afterwards and told connections everything that Kevin had been all season. Although there was no win next to his name it was arguably his best performance to date. 

Lexi did race again at Ascot in a very similar race and once again ran a very good race to finish fifth. He had been the model of consistency in the last few months of the season and improved to compete in some very good races. Surely with another year he could be a big player in the top sprints.

2015

Sprinters need that extra year to strengthen so when Lexington Abbey returned as a four year old there was big things expected. He looked the finished article now, stronger and more mature. His work was even better than the year before and it was felt that 2015 could be his year with races like the Wokingham, Stewards Cup and Ayr Gold Cup all the target. 

Lexi started the season early, again with the idea being to get him handicapped highly enough for the major sprint handicaps. The mark of 89 was good but not good enough, so a win or two was needed to sort that out. 

The opening weekend of the season at Doncaster was the start for Lexi and he ran with great credit. He had started at the Yorkshire track the year before and both performances mirrored one another. Jamie had found the key to Lexi and he used the new found tactics again, settling his mount off the pace in the 21 runner field. Lexi was his usual self, travelling with ease through the race, easily matching the strong pace. The ground was testing, as expected early in the season, but it didn’t stop a strongly run race. Jamie picked off his rivals with ease and as they moved into the business end of the race he was cruising into contention. It looked a matter of how far he would win by but then that feeling quickly evaporated. When Jamie asked for the challenge Lexi tried but he just got tired, after a deep breath there was nothing left. He had made up so much ground but couldn’t find that final gear, he ended up finishing a close and very good fourth. It was obvious to all who watched the race that he was the one to take out it and connections were full of excitement for the year ahead. 

The Wokingham was the first big target of the year and Kevin already knew the route he would be taken with Lexi. York Glory had won at Pontefract before winning the Wokingham and Lexington Abbey was going the same way. The Riu Palace Meloneras Handicap was the race in question and the 0-100 race was set up for Lexi, plenty of pace to aim at and a smallish field reducing any troubles. He was rate a 7-2 chance, making him second favourite and showing just how well he had run on his seasonal return. Unfortunately nothing went to plan. Lexi hated the undulations of Pontefract, the ground was loose and he just never got going. It was disappointing but there was at least valid excuses for such a poor run.

There was still time before Royal Ascot and where better to go than York during the Dante meeting. It was a similar race, similar opposition to Pontefract although it was a step back to 5f. The result was very poor as Lexi trailed in last of the 15 runners, a bizarre run. There was no obvious excuses and Jamie was baffled by the performance. Fortunately a bad scope brought to light a small problem but it meant that the Wokingham was now off the table, at least for one year. 

All the connections were expecting to be booking their top hats in June but instead it was a trip to Nottingham. Lexington Abbey had only run there twice before but both runs delivered a win. Kevin was adamant  the York run was just a blip and he had Lexi back to form. It was only a small field but  there were some well fancied runners and it looked very competitive. As soon as the gates opened it was obvious Lexi was back as he tracked the strong gallop with ease. He was settled at the rear of the field and stalked his rivals throughout. Jamie cut through the field from halfway, to track the leaders as they moved inside the 2f marker. As the final furlong approached Lexi still travelled strongly as Jamie sat anchored on the leader’s tail. The pair waited until well inside the final furlong but when Lexi saw daylight he quickened past easily. The margin was 1/2 length but the manner of the win was the most impressive aspect. Lexington Abbey had bounced back and now there was only one target, The Ayr Gold Cup. 

There was a couple of months until the Western meeting so Lexi was set to run again. The handicapper had put him up to 6lb to 95 but Kevin knew this wasn’t going to be high enough. So it was back to Nottingham, where Lexi held a perfect record of 3 from 3. He took on Greeb again, the horse he had overcome last time out and despite the 2lb pull the runner up had, there was a lot of confidence behind Lexi.

It was a very similar race to his last one, a small field but plenty of pace on. Everything panned out exactly the same with Jamie anchoring Lexi just off the leaders in the five runner field. The pair travelled extremely well and from halfway it was obvious that Lexi was due to battle it out with his new rival Greeb. With Jamie still motionless Greeb had kicked for home, taking the lead and putting a bit of daylight to the rest of the field. Lexi tracked his every move and looked more dangerous with every stride. Deep inside the final furlong and still Jamie hadn’t budged, showing how easily Lexi had got into the race. Finally Jamie asked for the turn of foot but there was nothing there. Jamie tried a little urging but when he realised the gap wasn’t closing as it should be he decided to get a lot more serious. The margin slowly closed but it was too late and Lexi just lost out by a short head. It was a good effort but he should have won that race and Jamie just felt it may have been the very fast ground or possibly the need for some help, like cheekpieces. Either way the main objective was achieved as the run had gained Lexington Abbey a further 2lb, allowing him a run in the Ayr Gold Cup. 

For a few hours before declarations there was plenty of phone calls being made by Kevin to find out where the cut off line may be for the Gold Cup. With a mark of 97 it was felt that Lexi would get in quite easily but that did not prove to be the case. Fortunately as Kevin tracked the declarations there was more and more coming out of the race. Eventually Lexi squeezed in at the bottom with the lowest mark. 

Pat Smullen had ridden him twelve months previous in the Silver Cup and he was once again travelling from Ireland so Kevin snapped up the jockey who had already given him one Gold Cup winner. Pat, ever the professional, remembered everything about the horse making the riding instructions very easy, leave it to him. 

From the start everything went to plan and the very strong pace suited Lexi down to the ground. He travelled with his usual ease and Pat had managed to get him settled in mid-division, with plenty of cover. The well backed favourite was sat to Lexi’s right hand side and they both moved  easily through the early stages of the race. Although there was a long way to go, by halfway there was a growing confidence in Lexington Abbey. The pace increased and a few of the leaders started to quicken into the second half of the race. Lexi was still cruising and as the 2f marker loomed the runners in midfield began to make their moves. Pat just started to look for gaps and tried to get Lexi to move forward. From travelling with ease suddenly Lexi was hard at it and not really making the move that was expected. Pat got more serious with his mount but there was still no real response and Lexi was giving ground away. The last furlong was a formality and very disappointing as Lexington Abbey just stayed on at the same pace, maintaining his position and finishing mid-division.

There was an air of disappointment and Pat felt the same. For a horse to travel that easily in such a good race was very impressive but to find nothing led to Pat thinking only one thing, headgear. He just felt that the race went so easy for him that he switched off completely and may just need some help to wake him back up again. 

In full flight during the Ayr Gold Cup

There was one more race left for Lexi at York’s final meeting. Kevin had listened to the advice of his jockeys and fitted the cheekpieces. Unfortunately there was nothing to really be learnt from that run as it was at the end of a very long season and Lexi was ready for his winter break, which he duly went on straight from York. 

2016

So what lies ahead for the new season with Lexington Abbey now five years old, the age at which many sprinters hit their prime.

Kevin has always held him in very high regard and this has not changed. Lexington Abbey has been on an upward curve from day one and improved throughout his career. Last year was the season that Lexi took the step up to the highest level outside of group racing, although some of the major handicaps can prove harder to win. Ability is only half of the battle when you get to that level and horses need to learn to run in the big fields. Lexi took that step up and he did do himself justice although there does look to be a lot more to come. Everyone who has ridden him commented on how well he travels in a race. Lexi has the ability to travel at high speed with ease and then from there quicken up to challenge. These attributes make him an ideal candidate for the big handicaps where the pace is always strong and you need a turn of foot to get out of trouble and take opportunities when they arise. Although he ran over 6f for the majority of 2015, Lexi certainly has enough speed for 5f and this opens up more options with him . There are plenty of opportunities with a horse of his ability but there are definitely a handful of races that he will be aimed at if all goes to plan. 

• Wokingham – Royal Ascot – 6f
• Stewards Cup – Glorious Goodwood – 6f
• Portland – Doncaster – 5 1/2f
• Ayr Gold Cup – Ayr – 6f

Lexington Abbey will start the season off a mark of 97 and this will ensure he is seen at all the best meetings. He is a horse that is very easy to get ready and he has already shown some nice work at home. Lexington Abbey is certainly going to give everyone some good days out and hopefully this is the year he can bag a big one. The ability is there and everyone has faith in him bringing home the big prize for all his enthusiastic connections.