When the McNeill family purchase a horse ready for a novice hurdle campaign with Alan King it is advised to stand up and take notice. Why? Look at the success of their previous recruits: Grumeti, Walkon, Olofi and Mille Chief. That doesn't include the enigma that is Franklino who Alan King has always said is one of the best workers at home he's ever had, but never reproduces it on the track.
 |
| Mille Chief |
This year the latest McNeill recruit to the ranks is Handazan from the John Oxx yard. Rated 98 on the flat, he was only 5 lengths behind Aidan O'Brien's Imperial Monarch as a 2 year old. Alan King has made it public how much this horse is exciting him at home and is very pleased with how the horse has bulked out in the last 3 months. We hear that Handazan has a brilliant attitude which is a testament to how much he has matured in a short period of time. Alan King thinks that 2 miles on ground on the soft side of good would be ideal and is eyeing up a debut at Chepstow this Saturday.
This horse is obviously one to take note of and appears to be the highest rated novice hurdler from King's yard this year. It will be interesting to watch when he mixes it with the other juveniles this term and the Triumph Hurdle has got to be the long-term target. He is still a colt and the plan is to geld him later in the season. He will obviously need a break during that period, I hope he recovers swiftly to return at the business end of the season in the spring. Even if he misses his potential spring targets, he is definitely a horse to take note of for the future. Will he be the next Grumeti?
No comments:
Post a Comment