Harbinger: World's Top Horse
Harbinger won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Group 1 at
Ascot by 11 awesome lengths. Photo David Hastings
Harbinger (Dansili) showed great promise last year at three until he sustained a niggling injury at the end of the season.
Fortunately, he was in the patient and gentle hands of England's leading trainer Sir Michael Stoute who has earned the trust of the horse's owners Highclare Thoroughbred Racing owners.
His stunning victory in Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes indicated that the colt was on his way to the big career his talent had promised. See Royal Ascot
Yet no one could have anticipated his blowout in his first Group 1 race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, 1m 4f, on Turf.
Sir Michael's seven-length Investec Derby winner Workforce (King's Best USA) was favourite with a strong supporting cast of Ballydoyle's Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco IRE (Galileo IRE), Youmzain IRE (Sinndar IRE) and chestnut filly Daryakana FR (Selkirk USA) for HH Aga Khan.
For most of the race on fast ground, Colm O'Donoghue kept control of the race for second favourite Cape Blanco from the front.
Workforce, with Stoute stable jockey Ryan Moore on board, was well positioned to challenge at any time.
Both Youmzain and Daryakana dawdled in the rear leaving them with too much ground to make up at the finish.
French master jockey, Olivier Peslier, was thrilled that Moore chose Workforce; he kept his mount Harbinger handy throughout.
Both Cape Blanco and Harbinger travelled better than the others all through the race.
Harbinger just seemed to be waiting for a signal and, when Peslier moved forward in the saddle, the horse raised his knees, dug in and took off.
In one of those mind-blowing hands-and-heels performances, Harbinger outdistanced Cape Blanco by 11 lengths and broke the course time record at 2'26"78s.
Youmzain was 3/4 lengths behind impressive Cape Blanco, Daryakana a length behind and finally Workforce another length behind.
Workforce was in trouble early on and did well to be so close to the others.
His connections have found nothing wrong with him so far, but are convinced something was wrong with the colt.
He did not look as strong as he did at Epsom in June. It is possible that the big colt is going through a growing stage leaving him a bit weaker than usual.
The world's "perennial critics" took advantage of his flop to insist that his Derby victory in record time was a fluke or one-off.
They said the same of Harbinger last year and, bless them, they are suggesting that he cannot duplicate his King George form again.
Meanwhile Harbinger is 2.1 or 7.4 favourite for the Arc de Triomphe overtaking the very worthy Fame And Glory (Montjeu IRE).
Harbinger is the best horse in Europe and any rating less than 135 would be an insult.
Is he another Sea The Stars? No, but he is damn good and has not peaked yet.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 7/29/2010 10:28 PM 
Categories: Harbinger 2010
Tags: Racing International Sir Michael Stoute Ascot Workforce Cape Blanco Harbinger King George Highclare Ryan Moore
Categories: Harbinger 2010
Tags: Racing International Sir Michael Stoute Ascot Workforce Cape Blanco Harbinger King George Highclare Ryan Moore
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