TUESDAY 6.10pm
Copper Horse Stakes
1m6f
VALIANCY
6th
SING US A SONG
5th
ERNST BLOFELD
7th
What the jockeys said
Race report
The race we won oh so easily with French Master last year proved to be somewhat frustrating for the three Wathnan horses this time around. They finished fifth, sixth and seventh. Splitting the other two, Valiancy didn’t seem to relish the good-to-firm ground, nor the record-breaking gallop. He did run on, but would probably fare better over further, on easier ground, and with the reapplication of headgear to gee him up in the early stages. Ernst Blofeld, hard on his heels, was trying 14f for the first time and ran honourably. He’d likely prefer less of a test – though this pace was unsettling for almost all horses. And, first of our horses, Sing Us A Song looked as if he would fight it out with the first two until being severely hampered by the runner-up half a furlong out while still very much in the running. He will surely have his day.
FULL RACE REPLAY
Preview
There’s a statue of King George III in Windsor Great Park astride an immense prancing steed, famously called the Copper Horse – for all that he is actually made of bronze. He’s oxidised to a resplendent shade of verdigris and is 200 years old – but the race named in his honour was inaugurated only in 2020. Wathnan won the Copper Horse Stakes, a staying handicap for older horses, with French Master last year, and this time we field Valiancy, a similar sort of rapid improver. The elegant dark bay – statuesque, in fact – has won his last two, rising some 18lbs in the ratings since his first win a year ago.
He’ll be joined in the starting gate by Sing Us A Song who started slowly and ran moderately at the Royal Meeting last year, but has been in good form this spring. A third Wathnan runner, Ernst Blofeld, tries a new trip and has also yet to win on turf. He’s the brother of Qatar Derby hero, Jeff Koons.
William Haggas is a big fan of Valiancy
“He just keeps up the same speed and fortunately, it’s often quick enough.”
William Haggas on Valiancy
