Red Verdon returned to Kempton last night to contest the Listed Wild Flower Stakes. He had gone very close in the Listed Floodlit Stakes over course and distance at the start of November and we were quietly confident he would run another big race . His biggest rival looked to be the smart Mountain Bell who had run fourth in a Group 3 recently on her comeback from injury. It looked to be a competitive affair however with the recent Listed winners Master The World and Daphne in attendance as well as the talented Western Hymn.
Our colt was a fraction slowly away and ended up towards the rear of the field in the early part of the contest. The John Gosden trained Astronomy’s Choice was intent on making the running at a good gallop and she bounded clear of the field. Red Verdon remained towards the rear on the rail throughout the majority of the contest but he continued to travel within himself as the business end of the race loomed. The leader started back pedalling and was soon headed at the two furlong pole. Red Verdon moved menacingly up the straight and made progress up the inside before hitting the front over a furlong out. McDonald had to get serious with the son of Lemon Drop Kid to keep him up to his work and despite idling a little late on he won by a cosy half length from Master The World and Daphne was back in third.
It was fantastic to see Red Verdon head back into the winners circle. There had been signs lately that he was coming back into form and the strong early pace here suited him well. The time was only fractionally outside the track record and the form looks solid with the second and third both boasting recent winning form. There is a strong possibility that if all goes to plan next year he will end up Down Under as he shapes as if he could well stay further than 12f. His rating would need to go up a little to be guaranteed a spot in the Melbourne Cup but if he can return next year in the form he has finished the 2017 campaign in then he should be able to achieve the triple digit rating that would be required.
Congratulations to Red Verdon’s owner Mr Arculli. We hope that your colt can step forward from this win next season and take you on some exciting adventures. Well done to everyone at La Grange, this win took us to forty nine winners for the season and we hope that we can get to fifty soon.