There is an increased belief around Somerville Lodge that this season promises to match the high expectations always set by the team.
Although the last week was at face value a little disappointing the reality was that all the horses expected to run well did so – our only bet of the week Eternal Force in the Lincoln finished 7th beaten just over 2L but was looked after by Cieren Fallon when it was clear he wasn’t letting himself down on the fastening ground. That was frustrating for ew punters as I am sure he would have been in the first four or five had Fallon pushed him out more forcefully.
The pre-race comments by Haggas and Fallon on race day gave a clear indication that the drying ground could be an issue. Fallon even inferred that this had arisen following a piece of work on the turf. Given those worries, what happened in the race was wholly predictable with the strong wind rapidly drying out the straight course on Town Moor.
The record of Haggas runners recouping losses incurred in the Lincoln is fantastic- when Eternal Force gets genuine soft round, I am very confident he will return to the winners enclosure and repay the consideration Fallon gave him.
The Novices and Maidens ran with varying degrees of promise but all drifted significantly in the market and were all ridden with the future in mind.
Montassib was heavily backed from 4/1 into 11/4 despite reservations about the ground and rustiness mentioned on several occasions as a concern. The 8yo ran perfectly respectably finishing well to be 4th and looks set for further successes when conditions are in his favour.
Caviar Heights and the brave Dubai Honour ran with great credit in Australia both finishing in the runner up spot – Dubai Honour being passed in the last 25yds trying to give 5lb to a previous Group 1 winning filly and robbed of a remarkable 4th Group 1 Australian triumph.
Power Fizz gave the yard a winner when he produced a strong finishing burst to win the 6f Class 3 handicap at Newcastle. Backed from 3/1 -2/1 he won with a bit in hand, but hopefully the handicapper is not too harsh on him. He was a little flattered by the race being ran in two groups against a fierce headwind which played into his hands, as the pace setters weakened inside the final furlong. Although we missed the win, he was one of 4 horses that were reasonably well fancied over the weekend and we could easily have backed them all and showed an overall loss over and above those suffered from the Lincoln.
On Sunday the 2000 Guineas entry King of Earth was put in very short at Even money for the 7f Novice stakes and predictably drifted before being backed back into 6/4 on the off.
He was ran out of what had looked like a winning return but this performance typified a Haggas horse on first or second outing. Green after hitting the front and given a considerate ride to ensure the experience did not impact his future career. What next ? I suspect a novice contest at one of the minor tracks where he will go off long odds on to break his maiden tag. Then, with a win in the locker, a move into a higher grade, ready to fulfill his potential.
All eyes now move to Good Friday, we have already advised the 10/1 Dramatic Star in the AW 2m Marathon and at least one more bet is likely to follow once the markets open.
Chrysalis Consortium 
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