Academy

I hope this thread is still valid by this time tomorrow; in truth, it would be disappointing if it wasn't.

I was really taken by this colt's debut performance at Newmarket last month, when second to Auden in a 1m maiden at the Cambridgeshire. He lost a decent early position but travelled nicely off the pace in spite of that, but he ran very green off the bridle once switched out and asked to improve two furlongs out, also appearing to be all at sea in the Dip. However, he picked up in taking fashion inside the final furlong under firm hand riding to get to within a length of the more experienced winner, getting a bit tired towards the finish.

I know the form hasn't exactly been franked by those to have come out again since, and you could argue the winner is no great shakes, but there was just something about this colt's perforamnce that day that really impressed me. I also liked the look of him beforehand from what I could see of him, looking to have a real stamp of quality about him, and I believe he could even develop into a Derby horse next year albeit Carlton House and Sea Moon could also be put in the same category from the Stoute stable.

He has to be winning tomorrow if he is ever going to be a Classic horse, that goes without saying; looks just an average bunch he is up against, but hopefully he'll come through it unscatched.

Am I being overly optimistic here about this colt's prospects, or does anyone else agree? I just feel he could be something else once tackling middle distances next year, as his pedigree suggests.