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25 Feb 2019

New Kids On The Champions Series Block: Soldier’s Call

Soldier’s Call and Danny Tudhope land the Wainwrights Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. Picture: Louise Pollard/Racingfotos.com

Horse: SOLDIER’S CALL

Form: 21131136. Trainer: Archie Watson.

There were few speedier two-year-olds around last season than Soldier’s Call and his connections will be hoping he can keep up the good work and make an impact in the top sprints this season.

The portents are good to judge by his performance against older, more mature, more experienced opposition in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp in October.

Soldier’s Call was third, beaten a head and a short head behind Mab’s Cross, with Battaash a half-length back in fourth.

He was getting plenty of weight from his top-class rivals that day but this year, worse off in that respect, he should be stronger and the more finished article, for all that the son of Showcasing – bred to be an out-and-out 5f performer – is not the biggest individual.

Before his trip to France in the autumn he had thrived against his peers, winning a minor event at Haydock; the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot; a Group 3 contest at Chantilly plus the Group 2 Flying Childers at Doncaster.

The one blip was when third in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, when not at his best.

Soldier’s Call failed to make an impact in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on his final start but it came after a long, fruitful season and is easily forgiven.

Look out for him in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 18 plus the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on August 23.

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