This is the first Filly in this series and before we get into the specific details, it is fair to say that following her in 2023 is likely to require patience. Her connections have already been very patient, as she has had 11 entries as a Juvenile but only made tot eh track once. The fact that she made a winning debut was a just reward for that patience, but everything about her pedigree would suggest that she was always going to need more time and it may be the end of her 3-year-old season before she reaches her full potential. All of the horses that I have selected for this mini-series have only raced once and so no matter how scientific I attempt to be, there is a certain amount of educated guessing involved. With the advent of social media and the detailed analysis of almost every aspect of every race run, Racing has developed a "here and now" attitude and this Filly doesn't fit into that bracket. She looks like a longer term prospect and I am convinced that there is a lot of ability in her, even if she takes some time to show it in 2023.
KEZIAH -2YO Filly
Trainer: Henri-Alex Pantall
Owner: Guy Heald, Ecurie Loick Fouchet & Ecurie Des Monceaux
Breeding: No Nay Never x Rhodalia (Galileo)
Winner 2YO Maiden at Chantilly - 1m1f Soft - 12.10.2022
Breeding: €240,000 purchase at Arqana in August 2021. A daughter of No Nay Never, Dam won an all-weather maiden over 11-furlongs on 12th career start, reached peak rating of 32-kilos. Half-Sister to 3 winners including G2 Prix Dollar winner Free Port Lux. Grand-Dam winner of 4 races, including G1 Beverley D Stakes in US.
Form: Broke on terms but steadied start to race in rear, 6-lengths off the pace turning in, shaken up and briefly unbalanced at 2F pole, changed legs and quickened readily to lead 150m out, kept on. Race was run in a time of 1:51.76, 0.36s faster than the Colts over the same C&D. First 3 home all raced away from the early pace, at 3F pole the Fillies were 8-lengths ahead of the Colts race. Placed horses have not run since, 3rd had finished 2nd on previous start, whilst the 4th placed Sunburn won on her next start at Saint-Cloud. Debut win for Keziah, but this was her 10th entry (first taken up).
Comments: The fact that she had 10 entries before finally making it to the track would suggest that she is not the most straight forwards Filly and her trainers comments back up that theory (see below). Although the leaders clearly did too much in front, she showed a good attitude in the home straight despite having the 2nd placed horse Wise Girl being ridden on her outside. Although slightly unbalanced when asked for her effort, this can probably be put down to her inexperience rather than any particular issue and she quickened readily to run home in closing furlongs of 12.06, 11.73 and 12.24, with the 8th furlong of 11.73 the fastest of any horse in the race.
The No Nay Never and Galileo cross has produced several winners as 3-year-olds and given that she was started over 1,800 meters, it is probably fair to suggest that she is likely to be a staying type for next season rather than a Classic hopeful. Despite an obvious need for experience, this was a promising start to her career. After the race her trainer told Jour de Galop “I acquired her for Mr. Heald, who has had horses with me for a long time. The Monceaux stable kept a share with one of its associates. She is a filly that showed ability, but Keziah has not always been consistent in her morning work. She had plenty to do in this race but did it well, She had to start somewhere”. Jockey Maxime Guyon added “Keziah came out of the stalls well and behaved well. It's never easy to start against horses that have already raced, so her performance is good. I was a little caught out by the pace during the race. I think the race was a fairly good standard. The filly made a good straight line and I think she could have lengthened more. She will continue to progress”.
Keziah will probably be best judged in 12-months time. She has shown plenty of ability, but looks like she is going to need more time and so even if she is beaten when she returns in the Spring, with time and distance she should prove herself capable. I would be very surprised if she doesn’t pick up some Black Type for her CV by the end of 2023.