3:55 – Salisbury - TOTEPOOL.COM SOVEREIGN STAKES (GROUP 3) (COLTS & GELDINGS) (CLASS 1) (3yo+)
Trade Commissioner runs in Pattern company for the first time this afternoon when he goes in the Grade 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury. The 4 year old bay gelding has only had 5 career starts to date and his improving profile strongly suggests that he can take the step up in class in his stride.
He did not run as a 2 year old or a 3 year old and only made his racecourse debut at Kempton on the all weather surface at the end of March this year but was to green to win first time out and finished in 3rd place over what was likely to be to short at trip at 7 furlongs. He was up in trip to 1 mile 2 furlongs for his second start which was a much more suitable trip for him and he won by ½ length with plenty in hand.
After his Maiden win he was stepped up in class running in a Class 3 Handicap at Newmarket. However, he got warm before the race and never really did himself justice again running over 10 furlongs when he finished 3rd some 4 lengths behind the winner. After the race Ryan Moore who was riding him suggested that he would benefit by dropping down in trip to 1 mile.
For his next run at Salisbury he was dropping down in trip to 1 mile and absolutely hacked up by 4 lengths in what looked like a pretty hot handicap beforehand. After being held up in 6th place he made headway to lead well over a furlong out, where he quickened up and was soon clear with his jockey merely shaking him up to win as easily am he liked.
His last run was at Sandown and he had been put up 12lbs for his Salisbury win but his big rise in weight was nowhere near high enough to stop him. He came from quite a way back in 7th place and was been pushed along 2 furlongs out before being shaken up inside the final furlong and going to the front when he just needed to be ridden out to win pretty easily by ¾ length.
Trade Commissioner runs in Soft ground for the first time today but his last run at Sandown was in Good to Soft ground and his stamina really kicked in when he was being ridden up the hill at the end of the race in going which did not appear to inconvenience him and his stamina will probably see him through again today.
He runs over 1 mile again this afternoon and as he has won twice from two runs over the trip, including a course and distance success he looks to have proved his ability over the distance.
William Buick rides having ridden him on four of his five starts which his includes three wins. He will be dropped into midfield again and as William knows exactly what he has under him he will know when to press the button to maximum effect.
Although he is up in grade from Class 2 Handicaps to a Group 3 contest Trade Commissioner is still improving at a rate of knots. The handicapper tried to grab hold of him after his Salisbury win by putting him up 12lbs which did not inconvenience him in the slightest and he is the one to beat today with further improvement likely.
