Newmarket: When a horse wins well without being fully fit, well then we should always take note.
When it happens, it means there is much better to come. It does not happen too often at Meydan of course, as the racing is extremely competitive, so there is extra reason to keep an eye on Vercingetorix.
Trainer Mike de Kock had left something to work on when this son of Silvano made his UAE debut on February 13. Racing in a handicap, where he was giving weight to all but four of his 13 rivals, Vercingetorix was visually quite impressive as he beat Code Of Honour by half a length.
He quickened up well in the straight to gain a clear lead and kept on well when challenged in the closing stages. His handicap mark for this contest, run over the same trip as the $5 million (Dh18.36 million) Dubai Duty Free (G1) on World Cup night, was 109. More will be needed to win the Duty Free next Saturday, normally quite a bit more actually, though Vercingetorix may well be a runner capable of 120. If so, he is right in the mix for the valuable turf event.
Combining speed with stamina, he won over 1400, 1600 and 2000 metres last year, when successful over the longer distance in the Daily News 2000 (G1) at Greyville in June.
Racing prominently throughout, Vercingetorix came out best in a three-way photo finish with No Worries and Capetown Noir that day. The result of this year’s Queen’s Plate (G1) at Kenilworth makes for interesting reading, since it was won by Capetown Noir, with No Worries two lengths adrift in fourth place. This confirms that Vercingetorix was up against classy rivals when taking the Daily News 2000. It was his first serious test and he prevailed.
He is about to become a bit of a ‘winning machine’, this horse, and his length and three quarter victory over Godolphin’s Vancouverite in the Group 1 Jebel Ali on Super Saturday confirmed that conjecture.
All being well after that prep, he should be a leading contender for the Duty Free and can give De Kock his first success in the race since Right Approach dead-heated with Paolini in 204.
— The author is a thoroughbred form expert and editor of www.stabell.co.uk
