Vanguard On The Up
Trainers love to strike while the irons hot, sometimes it works out perfectly sometimes not. Horses who are well in themselves and in form are happy horses so you try to get them out of their boxes and on to the track as much as you can. When you have a winner it’s great to back it up with another. Brilliant Vanguard won well last time out so when Kevin saw an almost identical race, at the same track and under the same conditions he decided that the 11 say break was enough. It proved so, as Brilliant Vanguard delivered with an almost carbon copy performance taking the Ripon Rowells Handicap.
Having got back to winning ways last time out at Ripon he came out of the race bouncing. The handicapper had duly stuck him up 6lb for his win, which on the face of it was a fair rise following an impressive performance. When Kevin saw the 0-100 event back at the same track he felt it was a perfect race to follow up in. Obviously Vanguard was in good form but there would be a few more and different questions to answer. Although Kevin felt he was well capable of handling the rise, Vanguard would need to prove it. Also he would be taking on some better horses, ones who were used to this level. Despite looking great at home, it was certain that the run had taken more out of him than could be visually seen.
Kevin Stott was again in the saddle and having got him to settle well last time he wanted to do the same again. Drawn 1 this could prove to be a tricky task but fortunately there was a couple of front runners who were determined to go forward. From outside of Vanguard they moved forward crossing his path to get over to the rail. Kevin happily took this lead and got Vanguard sat in fourth, tracking the leaders but maintaining his position on the rail. By doing this Kevin did get himself surrounded on the outside which meant he was caught in a pocket.
The pace was good throughout and the 10 runners were well bunched through the first half of the race. There was little change as they travelled down the back straight and around the bend. Moving past halfway the field straightened up for home and all still went well, looking like they all had chances. Vanguard was showing the same zest and travelled very well on the heels of the leaders. The pack were just shuffling into their positions, ready to lay down their challenges.
Having raced well for the first 5f of the contest the field began to break up a little moving past the 3f marker. The leader began to wind things up from the front which had a domino affect to the rest. This injection in pace caught a few out who couldn’t match it whilst those who travelled well began to move up through the pack. Vanguard was still moving well but Kevin had no room and would soon be looking for an angle to get out.
Gurkha Friend had led from the outset and had burnt off his nearest pursuers when quickening from the 3f pole. It was those who were tracking that began to make headway moving inside the 2f marker. Home Cummins came through to challenge, going well. Vanguard still travelled on the bridle and was stalking but was still in a pocket. For a split second a gap opened, which immediately caught Kevin’s eye. Unfortunately it was taken in a breath as Laidback Romeo snuck into it. Now Kevin was crying for some room or a gap. Brilliant Vanguard was cantering in behind but now he was all over the leader’s heels.
Time was starting to go against Vanguard. Kevin had no room, he would have loved to switch right around his three rivals but he couldn’t get out, he had to sit and wait. As they reached the final furlong a small glimmer of light opened up. Kevin didn’t think twice and stuck Vanguard’s nose between his two rivals. Bravely the 4yr old burst through, making the gap his and quickening up to join in with Home Cummins, who had taken the lead off the weakening Gurkha Friend. Now in the clear Vanguard was full of running and began to assert. With every stride he was getting on top and started to go clear. The further they went the further Vanguard went clear and he took the win with another comfortable 2 length margin.
Brilliant Vanguard proved he was up to the task and it was another decisive win. He is still improving and looks like a horse who can continue on the upgrade. Both contests saw him travel with ease and he looks to really appreciate a good, strong gallop. Obviously he will get another assessment following this and will have to improve again but he certainly looks capable of it. There will still be plenty of options left this year but he definitely looks like a handicapper who could really go on to better things next season. Hopefully he can be one to take the jump up to the top handicaps and is certainly one to look out for.