Brian The Snail shows pace to win at Pontefract
Richard Fahey is no stranger to training classy sprinters and he looks to have another one on his hands after Brian The Snail recorded a decisive victory at Pontefract on Tuesday.
Purchased by Godolphin after two victories last season at Pontefract and Catterick, the grey colt was having his first run in the famous blue silks and duly delivered a telling performance under William Buick.
Always prominent, the three-year-old son of Zebedee, who is really proving a very good sire in the sprinting division, showed a potent turn of foot in the closing stages to come clear of his rivals by a length and three quarters, quickening up well to score with plenty in hand at odds of 6/5.
Fahey has been effusive in his praise of the imposing colt in recent times and he looks set to target the G1 Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs at Royal Ascot in June. This was his first start over six furlongs and he seemed to excel for the step up in trip. He will firstly head for the G3 Pavilion Stakes at Ascot in May.
A delighted Fahey said:
Coming here I thought he’d win as I thought he was well handicapped off 95, and there’s not many horses you can say that about. I’ve made no secret of how much we like him so I’m delighted. He’s a big, burly, chunky horse so we needed to get a run into him.
He goes to Ascot now for a race for three-year-olds on May 3 (Pavilion Stakes). That (Commonwealth Cup) has to be on our minds as I’ve always felt he was that sort of horse. Maybe later we might (step up in trip) but he’s pretty quick.