Sport | Horse Racing
Latency a tough and consistent performer
Latency has been one of the top horses in South America over the past four years, and despite his unplaced effort in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (Gr 2), he is an interesting contender for the Dubai World Cup (Gr 1).
- By Geir Stabell, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 00:10 March 15, 2008
England: Latency has been one of the top horses in South America over the past four years, and despite his unplaced effort in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (Gr 2), he is an interesting contender for the Dubai World Cup (Gr 1).
An impressive 3-length winner of the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (Gr 1) over 2400 metres at San Isidro in Buenos Aires last December, Latency is effective over 1800 and 2000 metres, and he is an incredibly tough and consistent performer.
He outclassed Puchet in the Pellegrini, after coming from off the pace (and forced wide) to finish with real zest to lead with under a furlong to go.
Puchet is an improving young horse. He beat the favourite Candy Gift (a previous Group 2 winner) by 1 length for second, while the two Group 1 winners Life of Victory and Fairy Magic finishing fourth and fifth.
No fewer than 23 horses ran in the Pellegrini, considered the most important event in the South American racing calendar.
His Pellegrini success was Latency's tenth win overall, and his seventh in Group One company. He ran fourth in the Pellegrini in 2004, when he was a three-year-old.
Trained by top handler Juan Udaondo, Latency was coming off a long break when landing the Pellegrini. He had not raced since winning the Gran Premio General San Martin (G1) over 1800 metres at Palermo in Argentina in August, when he beat Star Plus by a neck.
Champion miler
Latency, who was bred by the Haras Las Dos Manos, is out of multiple Group 2 winner Latencia (El Asesor). Latency was voted Champion Miler and Champion Older Horse in Argentina in 2005, when his wins included the Gran Premio Estrellas Classic (Gr 1) - an equivalent to the Breeders' Cup Classic in North America.
This son of Slew Gin Fizz is a thoroughly game and battle hardened runner and, with strong form over a variety of distances and at different tracks in South America, we can safely call him the "streetwise guy". He is an absolute fighter, and he has experience with big fields.
Latency was compromised by the lack of pace in the Al Maktoum Challenge III (G2) on Super Thursday, when he sat too far back in a steadily run race and never had much of a chance. He finished eighth, a long way behind Jalil.
Latency is much better than that form might suggest. Quite how good, we will probably find out when he meets Curlin in the World Cup.
- Geir Stabell is editor and handicapper of Globeform / www.globeform.com
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