Sir Gerry to stretch his legs

Sir Gerry is to leave his sprinting past behind with connections keen to venture over at least seven furlongs from now on.

Gerry Galligan’s horse was just touched off by last year’s 2000 Guineas runner-up Delegator in a Listed event at Newbury last Friday.

Galligan had Sir Gerry in training with James Fanshawe – for whom he was third in the 2008 Golden Jubilee Stakes – before moving him to John Best but the five-year-old has been with Chris Dwyer since the middle of summer.

His latest effort was his best for some time, and a very rare occasion beyond five or six furlongs.

“He had only two previous runs at seven furlongs, first time out as a three-year-old on soft ground when he wasn’t fit, and at Kempton late in his four-year-old season when he was on his way back to fitness from his (pelvis) injury,” explained Galligan.

“But he was a revelation last Friday – upped to a trip he’s been crying out for – and despite his long, hard season he produced a career-best effort.

“All his future races will be over seven and we may even try him at a mile at some stage.

“His next race could be a Listed race at Redcar on Saturday week (Guisborough Stakes) or we could even supplement him for the seven-and-a half-furlong Group Three Concorde Stakes at Tipperary on Sunday week.”