Harbour On Middle Park Watch

Richard Hannon’s unbeaten Harbour Watch, the current ante-post favourite for next year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, will remain at six furlongs for his final outing of the term and bid for the Group 1 Emaaar Middle Park Stakes at HQ On October 8, writes Elliot Slater.

Hannon had been weighing up the possibility of stepping the Acclamation colt up to seven furlongs for the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on the same card, but following the decision of stable companion Bronterre’s owner to go for the longer contest Hannon has decided that he wishes to keep his two unbeaten youngsters apart for the time being and is perfectly happy keeping Harbour Watch at the trip that has served him so well on each of his three outings this term. Even punters who are mainly focused on the Breeders Cup betting will have been impressed by his efforts.

After winning a soft ground Salisbury maiden in eye-catching fashion on his racecourse bow in mid-June, the 58,000 guineas purchase stepped up in grade to tackle the Earl of Euston Conditions Stakes on the July course at Newmarket, gaining rave reviews following his effortless defeat of the useful Burwaaz by four and a half lengths. Three weeks later he stepped up again in grade and travelled to Glorious Goodwood for the Group 2 Tanqueray Richmond Stakes and had all bases covered in beating the capable Bannock by two-and-a-quarter-lengths, with subsequent Gimcrack Stakes and Mill Reef Stakes winner Caspar Netscher a further half-a-length back in third. Fans of Betfair horseracing will have been very impressed.

With his form standing up well and being franked again and again there appear to be no obvious flaws in Harbour Watch’s profile and he is expected to be sent of a warm order to complete the four-timer on the Rowley Mile at the big October fixture. Bookmakers rate the exciting prospect an 8/1 ante-post favourite for next year’s first colts’ classic, ahead of 2009 winner Sea the Star’s unbeaten half-brother Born To Sea, at 10/1.