No ‘Lim’its

With an unbeaten record comes expectation, but as the external pressure builds it appears it becomes more comfortable for Henry Candy’s champion sprinter elect Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}), who heads the cast for the newly-promoted G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock Saturday. Taking in the next step towards Royal Ascot’s inauguralG1 Commonwealth Cup, Paul Jacobs’ gelding has already demonstrated that the winter has only brought him on further when annexing the G3 Pavilion S. at Ascot Apr. 29. That form was boosted by the subsequent Listed Carnarvon S. success of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Adaay (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and his trainer believes he has continued forward in the interim. “He’s very relaxed this year,” Candy said. “I worked him a couple of times last week in behind the lead horse and he needed shaking up to get there and then he goes and does it okay. He’s a pleasure to train now.” This should provide another test of his true merit, with Tim Easterby saddling the May 13 G2 Duke of York S. runner-up Mattmu (GB) (Indesatchel {Ire}) who was also second to Limato in the Listed Redcar 2-Year-Old Trophy in October. Denied the very soft ground he thrives in as he showed when winning the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte in November, James Bowers’ homebred nevertheless offers a real standard by which to re-measure Limato against. Trainer Karl Burke puts two up against the hot favorite, with the impressive G2 Mill Reef S. winner Toocoolforschool (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) the obvious pick. Only fifth in the G3 Greenham S. on his return over seven furlongs at Newbury Apr. 18, the bay reverts to pure sprinting and his conditioner is hoping he can put up a bold showing. “We were very happy with Toocoolforschool’s run in the Greenham,” commented Burke. “He just got a bit tired and the ground was a bit quick for him. He should improve and we’re hoping for a big run in what is a tough race.”