The admirable veteran Hamish failed to replicate last year’s successful seasonal debut at Goodwood, paving way for his younger, progressive stablemate Tenability. The latter was receiving 5lbs and had the benefit of a run, after finishing third to Convergent at Newbury. Hamish was gallant from the front and grabbed the rail, just failing to rally against his oncoming stablemate late on in the Listed Tapster Stakes.
William Haggas told the Press Association after the race, via At The Races: “He’s doing well Tenability. He won a stakes race now and is a useful horse who is versatile and goes on any ground.
“I would like to try him over a mile and a quarter one day. I think he will be quite interesting coming back in trip. I’m not convinced he’s a real mile and a half horse, but we will see. He was always doing plenty today, not overracing. But I think the pace of a mile-and-a-quarter race wouldn’t bother him. I’ll have to have a look at the programme book.”
It was a successful outcome for Haggas, as Hamish reappeared in top form to set his season up nicely. “Hamish was great today again and ran a good race. The ground is probably drying a bit quickly for him and they felt it was very tacky today. Not sloshy soft which he loves. I think the 5lb penalty cost him the race. But that’s what happens when you run a Group horse in a Listed race. It’s probably not helped him today, but I’m still pleased with how he ran.”
“He has to run on soft” – William Haggas
William Haggas continued: “While Tenability is versatile and I’ve had this race in mind for ages with him. The problem with Hamish is he can only run on the soft. If there is another one of ours in this in the race and it comes up soft then they both have to run. It’s that simple.
“Obviously we like to keep them apart, but you can’t guarantee you are going to get Hamish’s ground. So you have to run him where the ground is and if it’s a suitable race then it’s a bonus. He has to run on soft ground.”
The pair hold no further entries, but the general consensus is wherever it’s soft, Hamish will turn up. He had to wait until September for his second run last season when winning the Listed Stand Cup. Given his strong form at Goodwood, connections will be hoping for a wet end to the summer.