Connections adamant 'the best' is yet to come from Jimi Hendrix ahead of Doncaster test
- Planet Sport writer
- 30 March 2023
Jimi Hendrix has struck all the right chords in his preparation for Saturday’s Pertemps Network Lincoln at Doncaster and features among a maximum field off 22 on Town Moor.
The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old will step into the spotlight with a few questions to answer after three sub-par performances, which followed his fine third in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot and subsequent victory in the bet365 Mile at Newmarket.
Owned by Chelsea Thoroughbreds' Purple Haze syndicate, connections feel he is a big winner waiting to happen and he will break from stall eight.
Former Channel 4 Racing presenter Emma Spencer, who is managing director and racing manager of the Chelsea Thoroughbreds syndicates, said that Jimi Hendrix is better than he showed in his last three runs.
"He probably had excuses to be fair," she said. "He went to Goodwood in a valuable handicap and was drawn 21 of 22 and that was complete waste of time. He didn't have a hard race, just an impossible task.
"Then when he went to the Cambridgeshire, Rob Hornby got off him and felt that he didn't like being crowded. It was the same big field in the Britannia, but in that race he ended up making the running.
"Everywhere he was in the Cambridgeshire, he was surrounded and Rob felt he froze a bit. Then when he got complete daylight, he got going again. We thought he had a big chance in that.
"After that he went to Newbury and the ground was absolutely bottomless."
Jimi Hendrix, a son of New Bay, was gelded after his final run last term and has been working well ahead of his drop back to a mile for his return.
Spencer added: "Sometimes it makes them concentrate a bit more. I'm a fan of gelding something that doesn't need to be a colt, full stop. You see improvement in every way.
"I don't think we've seen the best of him and as a four-year-old, we'd hope he will have a good year.
"To be fair, this year his work has been really good and Ralph couldn't be more happy with him. He won his maiden at Doncaster, and while there is rain forecast, he goes in soft ground.
"He's always a horse that Ralph has loved. It is well within him to win a race of this nature then step up.
"Things just really didn't go his way at the back end of last season and the Lincoln is a really good starting point for him."
The William Haggas duo of Al Mubhir and Montassib have been drawn in stalls 10 and 21 respectively, with Charlie Fellowes' Atrium in stall 13.
Awaal (17) and Wanees (22) are also among the leading hopes, but John and Thady Gosden did not declare Saga.
