Deep in the clutches of the British autumn, the last reminence of the summer racing game draws to a close.
Royal Windsor racecourse offed two days of quality racing. It's last Monday meeting of 2015. And also a bonus addition from the suspension of Great Yarmouth racecourses 2015 meetings, an extra Tuesday meeting.
My usual blogs come in the shape of reporting meeting by meeting. This time though with the depth a quality of racing on offer my report comes in the shape of a bumper, upsides race by race review. Eight races each day on offer, all with quality well attended fields and some stunning photography.
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| Quatrieme Ami |
The first race as usual for Windsor was set for maiden two year olds. The Monday meeting was over the sharp 5 furlong dash. Phillip McBride from racing HQ Newmarket sent the furthest traveller for this race Quatrieme Ami to post 4-11 fav. Ridden by David Probert, this son of Equiano, one his third outing, previous a fourth at Kempton and a promising run at Recar, took up the running with a furlong to go and held on well to beat a Mick Channon trained filly Shine Likeadiamond.
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| Exist |
One the Tuesday, John Gosden, who made a rare trip to the Berkshire course. Sent Exist to post. Going off at 7/2 settled well for jockey Robert Havlin, Frankie having been claimed for Al Shaqab's Mheelah. and though hanging left at the final stages to her race well. The race being run over six furlongs and for fillies only.
The Exceed and Excel filly out of a Efisio mare in only her second run of her career, the last a promising third at Leicester two weeks ago, seems to be one that would be hard to please as she goes on. Owned by Cheveley park stud seems to be hard to settle at home, but Havlin reported settled well for the race and time and experience can only be a bonus for this youngster, with six furlongs being its best distance.
The second race on the Monday, a six furlong three year old contest saw Lee Carter from Epsom send Rufford to post. Ridden by Keiron Fox this invincible spirit gelding whose last win came on the polytrack at Lingfield made all to beat Pettochside the 7/2 fav by three lengths, giving the fav 4lbs and not being fancied in the ring going off at 11/1
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| Rufford |
Tuesdays meeting, also saw another big priced winner. Gary Moore sent Art Collection to post at 25/1. Ridden by Fergus Sweeney the two year old by Shakespearean, who is off to the sales next week and wore blinkers for the first time took up the running with four furlongs to go. Despite again running left, (horses on the second day opting to run up the centre of the track), the gelding hung on well to beat again the fav 9/2 shot Broughtons Fancy.
His second win of Severn starts, this six furlong horse could be a prominent purchase for someone as he looks a big improving sort.
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| (near side)Art Collection |
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| Primitivo |
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| So mi dar |
The third race on both days were for maidens, the Mondays event being a nursery. One both days over mile and won on both days with horses carrying 9 st.National hunt trainer Alan king on the Monday sent Primitivo to post 6/4 fav ridden by the tall figure of William Twiston-Davies the colt by Excellent Art out of a Danehill Dancer mare was pushed in front a furlong out to beat Mark Johnston's Deodoro by two lengths. The colt has been progressively making his way up the winner enclosure over its last few runs and also is a horse that may hit the sales ring in the near future.
On the Tuesday,John Gosden sent So mi dar to post at 6/1, the Dubawi filly out of the quality mare who had good success on the course Dar Re Mi. Ridden by Robert Havlin who also has success on the dam. The two year old in her first outing held on well to beat Golden Stunner by a neck.
Jockey Havlin said this strapping sort hit the gates well at the start, and a good draw helped her chances, and was delighted to get the ride on her, in a season that has gone very well for him.
Fourth race, and on the Monday a mile handicap for three year olds and upwards was on the card. John Bridger who has had a successful season at Windsor sent his veteran ten year old Shifting Star to post. the chestnut gelding by night shift on his 114th run ridden by William Carson led the race and headed six furlongs out, the horse whose last win was at Brighton in April battled on bravely and got up in the final strides to beat Dark Diamond a horse Severn years his junior.
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| Shifting Star,Dark Diamond |
Emotions ran high in the winners enclosure as the previous trained by Walter Swinburn gelding came in, and showed on his day this horse can still mix it with the best.
On the Tuesday again a favourite trainer of the track in David Evans sent 2/1 fav Anonymous John to post.
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| Anonymous John |
The Baltic king three year old in his third win of his career, the last one being last season as a two year old ran on well to beat Evening Attire by a length. Jockey Adam Kirby said he knew this one could be in with a chance, as trainer Evans rarely send one to the races without a chance, he trains a Hardy sort of horse, were some do not get anything out of one this trainer would. Again a possible sales contender at the end of the season.
Fifth race, on the Monday a one mile two furlong handicap, and if Godolpin have one in, you have to respect it. A three year old filly by Dubawi Wild Storm, sent to post 2/1 fav, battled home well under top jockey James Doyle. Already a winner at Windsor in April, this nice looking filly as all Goldolphns are, battled home well to beat David Elsworth's Derulo by half a lengths. Two wins and placed at Kempton, this filly is one that may endure a bit of a winter campaign, and looks a worth contender.
Tuesday, fifth race, again for three year olds, but this time over the shorter six furlongs. Spring Loaded by Zebedee out of a Intikhab mare. Came back after a lengthy summer lay off through injury. The three year old with his first win on the turf came back to racing bigger and better from hi holidays to beat 4-1 fav Fairway to Heaven by two lengths. Sean Levey, who rode this grey on his maiden outing was surprised by how ell he had done and was happy to bring this one home for the yellow colours of Rowley Racing.
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| Wild Storm |
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| Spring Loaded |
Promising apprentice Edward Greatrex,a usual leg up for trainer Ron Hodges, took Severn year old Dreams of Glory to post for the next.Over the five furlong dash the resplendent Glory gelding kept on well over the final furlong to beat Dusty Blue by two lengths. The last time this gelding was in the winners enclosure was over course and distance in an amateur race. The jockey, Ed's twin brother Tom, so must be a favourite in the Greatrex family album.
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| Dreams of Glory |
On the Tuesday, over six furlongs this time Richard Guest trained Captain Scooby won nicely this handicap for three year olds.Joey Hayes took the Captain Rio gelding to the front a furlong out. Anthe the nine yer old on his 150th outing won well, beating Tidal's baby by a length.
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| Tidals's Baby,Captain Scooby |
The Final two races for the Windsor Monday meeting, held two divisions of a 1m 3 f amateur race.
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| Merry Dancer |
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| Rum Swizzle |
Merry Dancer under Mr M.J.P.Kendrick won the first. Trained in oxfordshire by Paul Webber, the three year old filly by Duke of Marmalade went to post at 14/1. Beating 9/2 shot Idle Talker by a short head, with Favourite sliver Lining in fourth.
Division two, Harry Dunlop trained Rum Swizzle with the twin of earlier winning apprentice E Greatrex Tom on board, justified his 6/4 priced favouritism by beating Loving your work and Top National hunt amateur Sam-Waley Cohen by two lengths.
The Tuesday, saw Instant Karma, trained by Micheal Bell from Newmarket and ridden by William Twiston Davis have his first win on a racetrack.Owner Mr Caine mentioned that he asked the trainer to try something completely different from his previous nine other starts. and go from the front and take the blinkers away. It worked, as the four year old made the pace, and though running left in the final furlong, hung on well to beat the favourite Melodica by three lengths.
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| Instant Karma |
The Final race from the royal Berkshire course for 2015. Was a mile handicap for three year olds. Newmarkets Mick Quinn sent World Record to post, ridden by Willliam Carson off the back of his previuos win at Brighton two weeks ago on soft ground. The choisir gelding only a few pound worse off for the win, seemed not to mind a little more pace in the ground, and though hard ridden held off Ted's brother by three lengths.
This race as well as the fifthteen other over two days before, was a fitting end to a quality seasons racing at Windsor.
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| World Record, William Carson |
And know though the course is put to sleep for the months ahead. We can only look foward to the 2016 Windsor season.
All images and blogs from the Windsor 2015 season can be viewed on
