CHARMING KID won a nail-biting finish at Wolverhampton today and just clung on a by fast-diminishing nose!
The 5yo son of Charm Spirit was only having his third run of the season and after a long absence after his seasonal reappearance in February, he ran well to be second earlier this month at Lingfield on the all-weather.
This was the “Kid’s” 21st race and the first time Adam Kirby was aboard. The pair broke well and made all over the 5f trip and in the home straight it looked as though they were in for a comfortable victory but as the winning post loomed, so the horse’s stride shortened and market rival, 3yo Atiyah, just failed.
Charming Kid was winning his third race in total but his first for Harper Lodge Farm. Congratulations to The Cool Silk Partnership who have had him throughout his racing career, having paid £105,000 for him at the Breeze-ups as a 2yo. Earlier in the day, Atiyah headed the market but there was strong support for Charming Kid who went off the 9/4 favourite.
As a 2yo, the horse was placed in the Group Two July Stakes over 6f, after which he was rated 105. Today, he was running off a mark of 77 and having only won by a nose, the handicapper can hardly be too harsh, especially as the third horse, Mutabaahy was only a short-neck behind the runner-up.
Winners have been rather elusive this summer although the horses have been running well of late. During the last 14 days, the Racing Post RTF, horses running to form, for the yard is 100%.
Many of the yard’s stars such as Librisa Breeze and Tropics are in the twilight of their careers but the likes of Charming Kid have age on their side and he certainly looks capable of being competitive in forthcoming races.