Much respected Kingston Warren-based trainer Henry Candy knows a fast horse when he sees one having trained some outstanding sprinters over the years, and there was no hiding his pleasure after the victory of his exciting prospect Codemaster in the Listed Stobart Group King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, writes Elliot Slater.
Although finding the quick ground plenty fast enough for him, the three-year-old showed plenty of ability in quickening readily over a furlong from home and leaving the highly regarded I Love Me toiling in his wake, eventually crossing the winning line two-lengths clear of Andrew Balding's filly. There is no doubt that Codemaster is well capable of taking a further step up in class, and connections will surely be discussing options for Royal Ascot and beyond for Saturday's impressive winner. Those looking at the horse racing betting odds will be keeping a close eye on his plans.
Candy has been associated with a number of renowned speedsters over the years, most recently last year's Group 1 Betfred Sprint Cup winner Markab, whilst the likes of the flying filly Airwave, and Kyllachy, the sprint champion of 2002 (when he numbered the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes amongst his successes), mean that the now senior trainer knows exactly what he is doing when he finds himself with the right material.
Last term Codemaster proved himself a very useful juvenile, following his half-length second place on debut at Salisbury with an eye-catching six-length victory in a decent Newmarket maiden. His third and final start as a two-year-old came late on in the season when he was sent north to Redcar to contest the valuable Totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy (Listed), in which he finished with a flourish into second place of the 22-runner field but had given first run to the eventual winner Ladies Are Forever.
Having clearly thrived through the winter and developed into a fine looking horse, Codemaster could very well be a horse to follow for the rest of the term.
