Plenty of positives emerged from Newmarket and York these last two days

October 12

Christophe Soumillon described Pierre Bonnard as “the real deal”, so for Spyce to be beaten only three lengths into fourth place by Aidan O’Brien’s Derby contender in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday left everyone at Barbury full of optimism for next season.

It was Spyce’s first run in Group company and his first over a mile and a quarter, but, whereas this race is nearly always a stamina test for the youngsters, on this occasion the pedestrian early gallop meant that six horses were spread across the course and all still in with a chance at the furlong-pole.

Obviously, Spyce was not the only one who would have preferred a stronger gallop, but in three runs in his first season the Too Darn Hot colt has looked a colt with a real future, and, hopefully, exciting times lie ahead over middle-distance in 2026.

One could not help but feel leaving Newmarket that a slow early pace in the Old Rowley Cup on Friday also proved an inconvenience for Daiquiri Bay. He just got caught out when the tempo increased coming out of the Bushes, but finished his race off strongly, being beaten less than a length by two horses whom he was conceding 7lb and 19lb respectively.

Insanity dropped back to an extended mile and a quarter for the first time in more than two years at York on Saturday, yet ran an absolute cracker, failing by only half a length to win what was a very competitive handicap. He had also run right up to his best in his two previous races at Ascot and back on the Knavemire, so, like Daiquiri Bay, he, too, could be one to keep in mind for all the major middle-distance handicaps next season.