Hello, team. There is one running tomorrow that I find Interesting with a capital ‘I’. The 4YO gelding hails from the barn of Lieutenant Henderson and he will be running on the Flat, for the first time, for the great man at Kempton Park (7.45). His mark is one of 74.
FRAZER ISLAND, for that is he, arrived at Seven Barrows, last Autumn, after commencing his career with old boy Mark Johnston – for whom he won once, was placed a few times, had a peak rating of 83 and even ran once at Group level. The son of Australia won on his NH bow, at Newbury, for the forum’s favourite trainer before following up with 2 narrow defeats (carried a penalty for that win in Royal Berkshire on both occasions). He concluded his debut campaign, over the sticks, by running unplaced in the ‘Fred Winter’ at the Cheltenham Festival. These efforts led to Frazer Island achieving a Hurdles perch of 129.
Frazer Island is certainly bred for the Flat, at any rate, so the switch back shouldn’t inconvenience him being by a Derby winner and his dam was a Group 3 victor. Meanwhile, the dam herself is also a half-sister to a Listed winner.
Fitness does, of course, have to be taken on trust but Lieutenant Henderson has proved he can ready one to win first time out on countless occasions and although I’m sure, in many ways, tomorrow will be a ‘prep’ for a hurdling campaign I still think Frazer Island good enough to win this off 74.
The yard, meanwhile, are in grand form at the moment with their last 2 runners both winning. Plus, it is only natural to assume the 4YO would have improved for another Summer on his back.
Like this one, people, and one to look out for.
