Retirement Plan

2nd-Aug-2013

There was a lot to like about Retirement Plan’s maiden win at Doncaster last time, and he is worth backing even at 9/2.

He was incredibly green on his debut in Remote’s maiden at Newbury in May, and he still looked inexperienced at Doncaster. He raced on the quarters of the leader, they looked to go a decent pace throughout, plenty were being ridden from a long way out, and he was driven to take up the running three furlongs out, but he had his ears pricked and he didn't do much when he got to the front. As soon as Ryan Moore gave him a slap, he put his ears back and he lengthened really well, putting daylight between himself and the really well-backed Shwaiman. He ran right the way to the line, and he pricked his ears again late on, giving the impression that he had plenty more left to give.

The first foal out of Passage Of Time (Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner as a two-year-old and placed in the Prix Vermeille, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Nassau Stakes), who herself comes from a very good family, Retirement Plan clearly has the scope to be a fair bit better than a mark of 88. Given the magnitude by which he has progressed from his first to his second run, there is every chance he will take another big step forward again from that last run. Although the drop by a furlong in trip and his wide draw aren’t ideal for a horse who is likely to be prominent, he could easily have enough in hand to defy those factors.

RETIREMENT PLAN (ADV 9/2, SP 4/1)

Back