Some French recruits are easy to assess, others are not. Lakota Blue, who will make his debut at Down Royal on Saturday for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud, falls into the latter category. On the one hand, we can say that he won his only start in France under a hands ride and both the 2nd and 3rd have won since to boost the form. On the other hand, the time of the race was unbelievably slow and a bunched finish on a narrow and constantly turning track is form that needs to be questioned. When we add in the fact that Gordon Elliott has chosen not to put the hood on, which seems an odd move to my eye given how keen Lakota Blue was on his debut, it can only be a wastching brief for me on his Irish debut.
Here are my notes on this 3-year-old:
LAKOTA BLUE
3YO Gelding
Chanducoq x Alijeff (Kotky Bleu)
2nd Foal. Half-brother to winning chaser Hopi Blue (Peak OR 110). Dam 5-race maiden, half-sister to 5-time winner Olijeff (Peak OR 118)
Form: 1 €5,250 career earnings.
New Connections: Gordon Elliott, Gigginstown House Stud
Notes: 3YO AQPS Gelding. 1 start, 1 win for Adrien Fouassier. Won a 5-runner AQPS Flat race for 3-year-olds at Corlay in the summer. The race was run at a very sedate pace for the first mile and became a sprint from the 4-furlong point. Winning time was 27s slower than the 3YO Fillies race over the same C&D.
Nudged into the bridle behind the leaders, Lakota Blue came widest of all around the final bend and hung his heads to the right. Once straightened up, he quickened best under a hands ride to win snugly by just over a length. Le Pretendant (2nd) and Luther’K (3rd) have both won since to boost this form, with the latter finishing 4th in a Grade 3 at Lion D’Angers on his latest start.
Wore a Hood*
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