We send two to the Westwood on Friday, and first up in the 1.10pm is the lightly raced three year old Mick, he takes on nine opponents, all of who also are tackling the two miles trip for the first time.Mick ran over the extended one mile, and six furlongs at Doncaster 17 days ago, and was rallying from two out, suggesting that the two miles of Beverley is within his compass.The handicapper has dropped him 2lb from Doncaster, and Graham Lee retains the ride.
Also running over two miles in the 1.40pm, but in the higher grade 0-85, is Northwest Frontier, he was due to run at York last Thursday, but was withdrawn because the ground was considered too soft.Northwest Frontier has won off a higher mark than what he runs off this time, and has also won in a higher grade, but this is his first run in 428 days, Kevin Stott will have his first ride for the yard.
Good luck to the connections, The Faiseur De Miracle Partnership, and Craig & Laura Buckingham.
MICK is a three year old gelding by 2000 Guineas winner Makfi, and the first produce of her dam,Sereza, who is by Pivotal. Sereza only raced on four occasions, all as a three year old, in Ireland, winning a maiden at Gowran Park, and earning an official rating of 95. Mick didn't race as a juvenile, but has raced four times at three, between January, to March 2020, on the all weather. He made his debut at Wolverhampton in January, over a mile and a half, with Graham Lee in the saddle, he looked very green, and after being slowly away, did make a little late headway. He was sent to Newcastle three weeks later, this time with 7lb claimer Rhona Pindar in the saddle. Mick was taking a significant drop in trip to a mile, and after challenging for the lead two out, weakened to finish fifth, of the six runners, but beaten by just five lengths
He was back at Newcastle 12 days later, racing over the same trip, with Graham Lee back in the saddle.He was given a more patient ride on that occasion, but after making his effort at halfway, he dropped out to finish sixth of the eight runners, but was now eligible for a handicap mark. Mick has raced once more, making his handicap debut at Wolverhampton off a mark of 65, over the extended one mile, and one furlong. He was slowly away from a poor draw, in stall nine, but he did make some late headway to be beaten just a little over eight lengths.
NORTHWEST FRONTIER definitely gets his stamina from his sire Galileo, as his dam is by the miler Proud Citizen, and she was placed in the Queen Mary (Group 2) at Royal Ascot, as a two year old.over five furlongs.He also has a half sister, who was Group 3 placed over six furlongs as a two year old.
Northwest Frontier was a late starter, not making his racecourse debut until June of his three year old career, when trained by Richard Fahey, and running in the famous silks of Sir Robert Ogden.He made his racecourse debut at Ripon over 10 furlongs, staying on well to finish third. Just over two weeks later at Redcar he got off the mark, over the same trip at odds of 4/6.He stepped up to 12 furlongs for his handicap debut, off a mark of 77, at Hamilton, finishing third, before going down by a short head at Thirsk in August, over the same trip.His next race was in the Melrose Handicap at York's Ebor meeting, over 14 furlongs, where he finished eighth beaten just over seven lengths.He raced on a further three occasions as a three year old, including his All Weather debut at Kempton in November, but never really got competitive.
Northwest Frontier returned in April 2018, over 12 furlongs at Thirsk, finishing sixth, and 12 days later over the same trip, this time at Musselburgh, he finished third.It was on his next start at Nottingham when stepped up to two miles for the first time, that saw him return to the winners enclosure, winning easily from a reduced mark of 73.He followed up eight days later at Ripon, over their two miles. once again winning without coming off the bridle.He was dropped back to 13 furlongs at Ayr in June, and finished second, but back over two miles at York in July he won again, taking his rating to a career high of 90.In three further runs for the Fahey yard, he couldn't get competitive, but he was highly tried at Goodwood, and again at York, twice.
Northwest Frontier has raced twice for us to date, in April 2019, over the two miles at Ripon, when having his first race in nearly seven months, he ran well off 90, to finish forth of the seven runners, beaten under eight lengths.He wasn't so good on his next start at York in May,missing the break, and then weakening from three out.
Northwest Frontier has been given plenty of time to freshen up, and is obviously a quality performer, he probably acts on most types of going, but Good to Firm would be a bonus, and two miles looks like his trip.