Dark Vision to light up Pontefract
Dark Vision looks well worth a step back up in class after three good runs this season en route to the Sky Bet Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract.
A classy juvenile for Mark Johnston, winning the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in breathtaking fashion when coming from last to first, Dark Vision was running in Godolphin blue on his next start after Sheikh Mohammed dipped into his pocket to ensure that was the case.
Unfortunately for his new connections, he flopped behind Too Darn Hot in the Champagne Stakes – and despite a very busy three-yearold campaign, which began in April, he looked to have completely lost his way bar the occasional encouraging performance. Whatever Johnston did over the winter worked, though, because Dark Vision reappeared on the second day of racing’s resumption at Newcastle with a fine effort, finishing second to Sir Busker.
That form has worked out exceptionally well, with the winner scoring again at Royal Ascot and going close in the Bunbury Cup from a mark 10lb higher than Newcastle.
Of course, Dark Vision finally returned to winning ways at Ascot himself, landing the Hunt Cup by a length and a quarter – a big margin in a race of that nature – from Montatham. Up 6lb, he met Montatham again at Sandown – and this time on 3lb better terms, his rival turned the tables, but only by a short head.
Dark Vision has put up three massive efforts in a row now, and the stiff Pontefract finish will suit him well in this Listed contest. Sir Michael Stoute has a very healthy strike-rate at the West Yorkshire track, pushing 30 per cent, and Heaven Forfend can add to the tally in the tiesplanet.com Maiden Stakes.
It has to be said that Cheveley Park Stud probably did not imagine sending this colt by Heaven Sent out of Frankel up to Pontefract to break his duck at the fifth attempt – but he is not devoid of ability.
In fact when second on his debut at Newbury the future looked bright, and he was not totally disgraced behind Pinatubo in the Chesham.
Heaven Forfend then missed the bulk of last summer before finishing fourth at Sandown in September, and he probably bumped into a useful prospect on his return at Windsor when second to Owen Burrows’ Taawfan – to whom he was conceding 5lb.
He will be sharper for that, and sets quite a high standard here. In the same Newbury race as Heaven Forfend was Ed Walker’s Monash – and without knocking your eye out, he shaped quite well in sixth. That was over a mile, and the son of Lawman steps up two furlongs for the Pontefract And District Golf Club Ltd Median Auction Maiden Stakes.