In the 6f Class 4 Handicap at Lingfield at 1.55 Anne of Kiev gets her chance to uphold the form of that Kempton race which has seen both the 1st (Piscean) and the 2nd (Sutton Veny) both win off higher marks. The race was run in a course record time and Anne of Kiev was a very promising staying on 5th as she had not run for 5 months previously. In fact she was probably the most eyecatching in the race as she was stone last entering the straight and ran on to great effect and was even stopped in her run close home. Rather than going up in the weights like the other 2 she has come down a pound to 80. She has a reasonable draw in stall 4 here, although she will probably be dropped in. She had shown progressive form, prior to her break, on turf earlier in the year when she won cosily at Windsor off 75 and she may be ready to raise her game on the AW too. She probably requires a fast pace to show her best and hopefully she will get that at this track with its downhill run into the straight. Sutton Veny of course is her stablemate at Jeremy Gask's yard so her win on Tuesday shows the stable is in form.
The trainers comments on Anne of Kiev's last 2 runs are as follows :
1st June 2010
"Well you can't say ANNE OF KIEV doesn't create debate! She looked disappointing last night and I would be the first to say she was, however before we all over analyse the run I would make it clear I would have been far happier if she'd been drawn in the middle and not in 1. If you have a look at her races she is one that needs covering up and loves to come through horses. Last night she saw daylight the trip and for mine was in trouble after they had gone a furlong.Steve Drowne reported she struggled with the track but I would reserve judgement on that for the time being".
21st October 2010
I have to confess to having a real soft spot for SUTTON VENY. To go down running a course record herself by making the running, she deserved better. However she was beaten by a better one on the night but for mine it was as good as a win. She remains in great heart and will continue on during the winter while she is in such form.
ANNE OF KIEV ran a terrific race in the same event and looks to have come back well in a race that was always going to be a bit sharp for her.
You can see from those comments that she will benefit from the step up in trip to 6f and its just a case of whether she gets the cover and fast pace she needs, if she does I can see her flying down the home straight and she should take all the beating in what looks an average race.