Mark Johnston has had one flop and one big success with his 2-year-olds at the Ebor meeting so far and sends forward the admirably consistent Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}) for the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack S. at York on Saturday. Burdened with a three-pound penalty as a result of his defeat of U S Navy Flag (War Front), the G2 Coventry S. scorer Rajasinghe (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) and Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G2 July S. at Newmarket on July 13, the homebred has more suitable ground conditions than those he encountered when third in the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood on Aug. 3. “He didn't show his true running at Goodwood and at this stage we are putting it down to the soft ground,” the trainer's son and assistant Charlie Johnston commented. “At Newmarket when he won, he hit the line very strongly whereas at Goodwood he travelled like the best horse in the race but couldn't quicken. Hopefully it was because of the ground and he will show his best on Saturday. He has to carry a penalty again but horses who have a penalty have a good record in the race and he goes there in good shape.”
Another who may have been compromised by the testing ground prevalent at Glorious Goodwood is the Richmond runner-up Nebo (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who had previously finished a head second to Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the seven-furlong G2 Superlative S. on good-to-firm at Newmarket on July 15. The Royal Ascot Racing Club's Headway (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) was bogged down when sixth in the Richmond and is better judged on his previous head second to Rajasinghe in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. on June 20. “It was just a disaster at Goodwood,” the syndicate's racing manager Harry Herbert said. “The horse is much better than that and with the better ground here at York, he should be competitive. William [Haggas] is pleased with him and his form is solid. He has done well physically and we expect him to run a big race. He has got a good spot in the middle, so I don't think the draw will be a problem.”
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