Promising Sword Maker can prove cut above at Salisbury

SWORD Maker looked a horse to follow when winning at the St Leger meeting and he can take the next step up the ladder in the British EBF Joan Snow Memorial Conditions Stakes at Salisbury.

- By NICK ROBSON

Saeed bin Suroor’s colt made his debut in what is now a famous maiden at Newmarket on the July course which was won by Distant Storm from Constitution River, with the likes of Oxagon and Venetian Prince in behind.

Sent to Redcar a fortnight later he had little trouble justifying favouritism but then, like so many can, he seemed ill at ease at Ripon next time out.

Back to a more conventional track at Doncaster and in a nursery, he looked much better than his opening mark of 80 and the handicapper thought so too as he hit him with a 10lb hike for a three-length win.

This looks a logical next step before a possible tilt at a black-type race before the end of the season, when no doubt a trip to Dubai will be on the horizon.