Harbour Watch is likely to remain over six furlongs (1200m) for his next outing after his impressive win in last week’s Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Richard Hannon’s unbeaten colt had to ride his luck when carried wide by Bogart in the Richmond but still managed to prove his class and is already disputing favouritism for next year’s 2000 Guineas.
“Harbour Watch is a tall colt, who still has some strengthening up to do, and when he has filled his frame through the winter we are confident that he’ll get the mile (1600m),” the trainer told www.richardhannonracing.tv.
“But we don’t need to think about a mile until next year and, while we will consider trying seven furlongs (1400m) in the Dewhurst, for the time being we will stick to what he is doing well just now, so carrying a 3lb (1.5kg) penalty in the Mill Reef at Newbury and/or then stepping up to Group One company for the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket three weeks later is the logical route to take.
“This horse just gets better and better. He picked off Casual Glimpse very easily in his final gallop, so we went to Goodwood in confident mood, and he could hardly have been more impressive.
“Hughesie (Richard Hughes) told me before the race that he has not had a better feel from a two-year-old since Canford Cliffs, and when he dismounted after the colt’s two-and-a-quarter-lengths victory, he assured me that he would have won by five lengths had he gone inside Bogart rather than outside at the foot of the hill.
“Harbour Watch ended up being carried into the middle of the track by the other horse, but it meant that he had to quicken twice, which is always the sign of a top horse.
“He is one of the best that we have got, and he could go all the way.”
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