Heaven is so unpredictable

Jul 12 2008 The Journal

MY patience is running out while he is running out of excuses. So Heaven Knows what to expect from the enigmatic William Haggas-trained horse in the 49th John Smith’s Cup at York today.

I have followed his career closely since I saw him win at Thirsk as a three-year-old and, although he has had his moments, he has so far fallen short of expectations.

Always held in high regard by Haggas, who felt Heaven Knows would improve with age, his potential attracted the attention of Hamdan Al Maktoum who bought him privately from the trainer’s father.

Although he won a Newbury handicap in soft ground last season, he was largely disappointing and was gelded during the winter without further success. He was tried on the all-weather at Great Leighs last time when equipped with a visor for the first time.

The jury is still out whether the headgear made any difference as he finished a never-dangerous fourth to Moon Quest. Held up in the rear, it took him ages to get balanced and racing and, when he did eventually start to pick up, the leaders had gone beyond recall.

Heaven Knows gives the impression he is better than what he has shown and, perhaps, he is reluctant to show his true colours and keeps a bit to himself. However, the trip and ground will be in his favour on the Knavesmire and he will find himself on my black list if he doesn’t put his best foot forward this time.

Whatever fate awaits him, he will be regarded as the stable’s second string anyhow because Mutajarred, in the same ownership, has always been preferred in the ante-post market although both would probably have been overshadowed by Haggas’ other entry, the three-year-old Collection – who was one of the joint favourites only to fail to make the cut.

As for Mutajarred, he has not run since winning a conditions race at Great Leighs in May. He was most progressive last year and will relish the testing conditions. He commands respect.

Monte Alto kept improving last term and ended the campaign with a creditable sixth in the Cambridgeshire. He made an encouraging start to the present campaign when beaten a length in third by Capable Guest in Redcar’s Zetland Gold Cup.

On the strength of that run he was sent off favourite for the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot, but his run rather flattened out when push came to shove and he finished a one-paced sixth. He could have done with a stronger gallop that day and many will give him another chance to atone.

Richard Fahey saddled five for last year’s event and two of them, Charlie Tokyo and Flying Clarets, fought out the finish. The pair again feature in this year’s quintet and, although the former has the best of it at the weights, Flying Clarets has been in much better form lately. Zomerlust is at his best when the mud is flying and is weighted to return to winning ways in the John Smith’s Extra Cold Stakes. His last win came here and he ran well enough at Newcastle recently to suggest he is about to strike again.

He finished clear of the small group that raced on the stands’ side but they had no chance with the bulk of the field on the other side. That was over seven furlongs but he is equally effective over a furlong shorter in a strongly-run contest which he should get here.

Baby Strange has kept his form in two runs since snatching a Newbury prize in May and he looks the one to be most interested in if, for some reason, Zomerlust doesn’t produce the goods.

Bogside Theatre put up a bold show in the Northumberland Plate to finish a close third to Arc Bleu.

George Moore’s tough filly is relatively lightly-raced and is the type to land a similar staying prize.

She was ahead of Akarem, Gee Dee Nen and Tilt at Newcastle and looks sure to give another good account in the Emirates August Stakes at Ascot.