chased leaders, driven and headway on outside over 1f out, went narrow 2nd inside final furlong, kept on, no impression with winner
tracked leaders, effort to chase winner on inside when not much room and switched right well over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to dispute 2nd inside final furlong, no impression
went right start, ran green, switched towards inside rail after 1f, soon chased leaders, outpaced well over 1f out, ridden and no impression in 4th final furlong
pressed winner, driven and lost place over 1f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong
made virtually all, driven clear approaching final furlong, ridden out, readily
Smart Stepper was well beaten at Doncaster but the very speedily-bred Dark Reckoning has performed with credit and her yard have struck form with a vengeance. They also run the newcomer Doppler Effect and he's another who should have pace to burn as he's by Monsieur Bond out of a winning sprinter. CHARLIE CROKER went from a €16,500 yearling to an €85,000 two-year-old so someone obviously saw something in him and his sire has made a cracking start to his career. He's given the nod though another first-season sire, Zebedee, has also made a terrific start and his son Never Easy, a half-brother to four winners, is another to keep an eye on.
Charlie Croker (IRE) Fast Company colt out of Officious Madam.
Doppler Effect Monsieur Bond colt out of Scarlet Oak.
Never Easy (IRE) Zebedee colt out of Silk Point.
Smart Stepper (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Held up and always towards rear, 9th of 10, 19l behind Fox Trotter (9-5) at Doncaster 6f 2yo mdn (5) gd.
Dark Reckoning 8-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden halfway, headway to chase winner over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Enlace (9-0) at Hamilton 5f 2yo mdn (5) gd.
