Six-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding Fortification (by With Approval, out of Palisade, by Gone West) won a competitive (Class 2) handicap chase race over 3 miles by 10 lengths on Sunday at Kempton Park. Check out the result here. He earned an RPR of 140. This is his 4th win in as many start over fences in his chasing career which started less than 2 months ago. His other three wins were run at distances of 3m, 2m7½f and 3m1½f. All of his wins were ridden by amateur jockey Matthew Griffiths. Prior to this winning streak, he was 0-for-23 over hurdles/flat between May2007 to Oct2009. According to Timeform data, Fortification was sold for £1,400 as a 3-year-old, and again for £3,000 last year.
Fortification has a very flat-oriented pedigree. He was bred by Juddmonte Farms. His half-sister was graded-stakes winner Jibboom, another Juddmonte's homebred. Trained by the late Bobby Frankel, Jibboom won the Monrovia Handicap-G3 (6.5f T) and the Beuna Vista Handicap-G2 (1m T) at Santa Anita earlier this year before being retired due to a suspensory injury.
Who knows what's next for Fortification? Maybe this is just a one-time glory and he never wins again. Or maybe this is just the beginning of his own chapter in racing history. Who knows? As a racing fan I certainly don't know. But I am anticipating his next race, just the same as I am anticipating the next Derby winner or super mare. It is fortunate that a horse like Fortification is racing in an atmosphere that embraces brillant and precocious sprinter/miler just the same as late-developing stayers who has bottomless stamina and tremendous courage. The reward and recognition maybe different, but at least the opportunity is there for them to show what they can do the best.
No comments:
Post a Comment