PLEDGE OF HONOUR, unseated when travelling well at Windsor a month ago, made amends in style at Newbury yesterday when winning comfortably under Liam Keniry.
Twelve went to post for the 1m2f handicap for 3yos and upwards rated 0-85 and the 4yo son of Shamardal was sent off the 13/2 fourth favourite. Always handy in the first four, he he moved easily throughout the contest tracking the leaders and led over a furlong out. Challenged strongly by Kattani inside the distance, Pledge Of Honour kept on well and was ridden out to a half-length success over the runner-up with a further two lengths back to the third.
This was a deserved success as prior to unseating his rider in his previous race, he had been placed on all four previous starts. Bred by Godolphin, he’s a full-brother or half-brother to three winners, one of whom, Lucida was also second in the English 1,000 Guineas while the dam is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup turf winner, English Channel. Unraced at two, he went through the sales ring at Ascot in March of last year for just £22,000.
There looks to be plenty of scope for improvement and he could well shape up into a useful middle-distance handicapper for Harper Lodge Farm. Some of the stable’s older stars are in the twilight of their careers, so it’s always nice to have younger, progressive horses coming through to take their place. Could Pledge Of Honour be another well-bred “cast-off” to climb the ranks for the yard?
Yesterday’s win by follows Laurentia’s success the previous day and with Badenscoth winning nicely at Goodwood at the back end of August and other horses recently being placed, it seems the yard is hitting form as we move into autumn and the latter stages of this year’s turf season.