Chelmsford winner Sanam
It was a thrill to see the four-year-old Oasis Dream gelding Sanam confirm himself an improving stayer with an authoritative win at Chelmsford on Thursday under Luke Morris. Huge congratulations to his loyal band of owners, the Lime Street Partnership and Friend!
Sanam travelled in the middle of the seven runner field, Luke Morris anxious to keep market rival It’safreebee within his sights. Counterfeiter moved menacingly into the lead rounding the turn for home, but Sanam was just being urged into full flight. He took a little while to hit top gear, but once he did so he powered away to win by a length and three-quarters.
Although some commentators were questioning the wisdom of running Sanam over a staying trip pre-race, he proved the doubters emphatically wrong, galloping relentlessly to the line. He had won on his previous start at Newcastle from a mark of 48, and was following up from a six pound higher mark here. The handicapper will inevitably have his say again, but Sanam retains a good bit of potential after just six starts. Here’s hoping that he can continue his progress.
His pedigree certainly suggests that he might yet do a little better, as he is one of the better bred horses that you will find running in low grade AW staying handicaps! His dam Seta was a multiple Listed-winner over a mile, and she has previously produced the dual-winning 77-rated sprinter Seastrom. Her near relatives include the Gr.1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and sire Barathea and the Gr.1 Irish 1,000 Guineas and Gr.1 Fillies Mile heroine Gossamer.
Interestingly, Seta’s half-brother Gravitas won a Listed contest over a mile and a half, another half-brother Affirmative Action won a Listed race in France over an extended mile and seven-furlongs, whilst her Gr.2-winning half-sister Armure also won at up to two miles. As a son of Oasis Dream out of a quick and classy mare, you could have been forgiven for thinking that he might excel over a shorter trip, but stamina is clearly his forte. This tremendous family was cultivated by the late breeder Gerald Leigh over a number of years.
Sanam clearly takes after his strong staying aunts and uncles - fingers crossed that he can continue his winning run in the near future!