Quality Time For Top Honours

There has been an increasing trend to introduce useful sorts on the all-weather surface in the last two or three years – the Irish Derby winner and Epsom Derby runner-up Jack Hobbs is a case in point – and we have seen some very promising types appear on artificial surfaces in the last month or so.

Word reached me from a reliable source this afternoon that Saeed Bin Suroor’s Quality Time, a daughter of Exceed And Excel out of a Street Cry mare from the family of Saoirse Abu, was thought to be superior to the yard’s two winners on Wednesday – Brave Hero and Next Stage – and the confidence was duly reflected in the betting. Settled in fifth place in the early stages, she was a few lengths off the pace but once switched made smooth headway to win very comfortably from a promising sort in second and the 74-rated Make Music in third.

Black type beckons for Quality Time next season, probably over trips of up to a mile.

I expect the form of the opening novices’ hurdle at Newbury this afternoon to hold up quite well. Barry Geraghty did not ask too much of Modus, only using hands and heels to get the better of the gallant Charmix in second. It was 24 lengths back to the third and the winner, who has a Flat racing pedigree, will be seen to better effect on quicker ground in the spring.

I am writing an Online Preview tomorrow for Hennessy day. This will include my in-depth analysis of the big race and also have news of an interesting horse for one of the support races. It will be available to view online by 8.00pm on Friday evening.

Have a great weekend and bye for now.

Marten