Sir Xaar looks good to win

Jul 26 2008 The Journal

IT’S almost three years since Sir Xaar last visited the winner’s enclosure and one of his best performances during that long losing run came in the Beeswing Stakes at Newcastle a year ago when comfortably beaten by Balakiref.

Bryan Smart’s five-year-old returns to Tyneside today for another crack at the Barclays Commercial-sponsored handicap and, due to his lack of recent success, finds himself racing off a 7lb lower mark which entitles him to finish ahead again of last year’s fourth, Passion Fruit, and sixth-placed Countdown.

His only other noteworthy effort last season was on his penultimate start at Newmarket where he was fitted with blinkers for the first time, along with the tongue tie, and got within a length of the all-the-way winner Celtic Sultan.

Back in 2005, Sir Xaar was a very useful juvenile, winning thee times, including a Listed event, and also finishing second in the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes. While he hasn’t reproduced that sort of form since, he isn’t the only horse that has lost his way after enjoying a successful first campaign.

To be honest, he hasn’t looked straightforward either as he has got older. He seems to need some persuasion to go about his business and has worn a visor for his last two runs when excuses could be made on his behalf.

He probably found the opposition in the Royal Hunt Cup too hot to handle over an extra furlong and, more recently, the ground had turned against him on Plate day at Newcastle.

Ideally served by a fast surface, he stays seven furlongs well and has only to show us that he still retains some ability to make his presence felt here.

Passion Fruit is back on a winning mark – a pound lower than her last victory at Redcar almost a year ago – and it would be no surprise to see Chris Fairhurst’s admirable mare take a hand in the finish, while Zero Tolerance has been knocking on the door lately without any luck and could well end his drought, though easier ground would suit.

Hazelrigg has failed to build on the best possible start to his racing career when outclassing a field of maidens at Thirsk in April. However, you can ignore his return visit 15 days later as he became upset in the stalls after being in them for some time and ran no sort of race.

His latest effort at Newmarket shows that he beat only one home but he ran much better than his final placing might suggest. He wasn’t beaten far and, unless his Thirsk debut win was a flash in the pan, he should give a good account of himself in the I.T.P.S. Cellular Solutions handicap.

Richard Fahey is no stranger these days to having more than one runner in a big handicap at York. He saddled five for the John Smith’s Cup a fortnight ago and provided the winner in Flying Clarets, narrowly outpointed by another stable companion Charlie Tokyo in the same event last year.

Today he has four chances in the Sky Bet Dash headed by the top weight Knot In Wood who came back to form in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton last week. Another 5lb on his back though will make it tougher for him.

Of more interest is Fahey’s rapidly-improving three-year-old Harrison George who has shown a liking for the course and was winning his third race of the season at the last meeting.

However, I have to stick with Tombi. For some reason he didn’t show his true running in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, but he was most impressive on his seasonal debut at York and, though the handicapper responded with a hefty 10lb rise, I think he has more to offer and can prove equal to the task.

Numero Due has disappointed in his last two runs and has a bit to prove in the Sky Bet Handicap at York. But he is the type that needs strong handling, so with Frankie Dettori on board and a visor fitted, he could improve.

DOUG Moscrop has been in great form with his naps this week and LUJARNO (9-1) at Thirsk yesterday was his third winner in five days. It follows STEEL BLUE (9-2) on the previous day and LOOK BUSY (10-1) on Monday.