Six races at Windsor, the course in the heart of the Royal
County.
The evening bathed in glorious early summer sunshine horses were being
geared towards the royal meeting and group classed races.
The first race of the evening was for three year
olds and up, local trainer Clive Cox placing his five-year-old gelding by
Haateff in the claiming race for £1200.
Fear or Favour driven home by Adam Kirby in the
final furlong switched to the middle of the course for the better ground, this
paying dividends as the gelding got the run on Jimmy fortune and Brian Meehan’s
Great Fun to land the race by two lengths.
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| Adam Kirby rides the winner of the first race of the evening |
The 7/4 fav for the race already on a win courtesy
of a trip to Brighton a few weeks back seems to appreciate the drop in distance
and class, the trainer wanting to make the most of the good form while he can
with the horse.
No surprise then that the Lambourn resident sent
out another runner in the later race, the one mile maiden fillies race this time
a little more of a surprise as the three-year-old Your always right ridden this
time by John Fahy landed a 12/1 win for the master of Beechdown stables.
The horse owned by Paul and Clare Rooney was
represented by their newly employed racing manager Jason Maguire. Recently
retired from the national hunt scene.
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| Paul and Clare Rooney was represented by their newly employed racing manager Jason Maguire |
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| Trainer Clive cox on a double for the evening |
Cox mentioned about the horse, ‘John has given this
filly a superb ride out of stall one, she will probably get further has time
goes on, she gives me an impression of a mile and a quarter horse.’
The jockey who puts a lot of work into the stable
said ‘she is a filly we have always liked, she would want further and she is
one that we would not make decisions on too soon.’
Still a nice evenings work from a good trainer not
within the Newmarket circle.
Again another winner coming from the Royal county, was in
the shape of the aptly named Jule in the crown, ridden by top jockey at present
Silvestre De Sousa the Mick Channon two-year-old took on the novice’s fillies
race beating Clive Cox’s Barroche by two lengths.
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| Jule in the crown |
The two-year-old that has had an unlucky run at Ascot
recently found a much easier time of it at Windsor, the jockey mentioning that
she was a very nice filly, and one to get a little excited about. Asked if she
was a Royal Ascot contender the champion jockey said,’ we’ll let Mick decide on
what to do with her, but she is a very nice type.’ Praise indeed from a jockey
that has sat on some very nice young horses in his time.
Time will tell with this daughter of Harbour Watch, but be sure the East Isley trainer knows his two year olds and where to place them for
maximum efficiency.
As always at Windsor it is a good place to see rising stars
of the future, the first three races being about young and inexperienced
horses. And this was no different in the third race of the evening another
novices’ race for two year olds, this time to include the colts.
But it was another filly that took the spoils this time not out
of the Berkshire area, but heading up north.
Sea of Snow trained at Middleham by Mark Johnston and ridden
by Franny Norton a regular to the course made the bookies smile as they beat
the 1/5on fav,the Richard Hannon trained Legendary Lunch by half a length.
The Distorted Humor filly seemed to edge left in the final
furlong which caused the stewards to look into the race, the jockey mentioning.
‘she is a really tough little filly, she has taken a little look when hitting
the front and moved away from the stands a little, but I have no worries about
that. She is a nice little filly.’
The 5/1 shot who has already won her maiden seven days
previous at the course may be bred for further but has beaten a very nice colt
from the Hannon yard, possibly heading for the Epsom meeting and would be one
to note as her season develops.
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| Sea of Snow trained at Middleham by Mark Johnston and ridden by Franny Norton beats Richard Hannons Legendary Lunch |
The penultimate one mile three furlong handicap race was
taken again to the Lambourn area. This time by new resident trainer and Windsor
regular and now trainer Richard Hughes.
Cape Discovery ridden by Shane Kelly stayed on well to beat
the Ralph beckett 2/1 fav Green light by a neck on the line.
A gelding that seems to be improving with each run, finally
had the running and ground to his liking giving the trainer another win to his
fresh tally.
‘It’s good to get a winner, but there is no pressure or target or rush anything. As long as everyone is pulling their weight at home I’m happy with
the way things are progressing at the moment.’
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| Cape Discovery, shane Kelly |
‘Mr Monday night at Windsor’ as he was known in the weighing
room, the jockey now trainer, infamous at the Royal course due to the fact of
his successes over the years is a trainer that certainly is heading in the
right direction since his move to Lambourn, and one we will see regular in the
winners’ enclosure at Windsor.
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| Cape Discovery and trainer Richard Hughes |
The final race of the evening a five-furlong dash handicap
for three year olds went to the 13/8 fav Udontdodou.
Trained by Richard Guest
and ridden by Jason Hart the gelding by Fastnet Rock took the far side rail to
beat Clive Cox’s Silken Skies by two and a half lengths.
'This is a very nice
horse that will improve a lot throughout the season,’ mentioned the jockey. The
owners who also owned Udodontu that was second at the Royal Ascot meeting, the
jockey mentioning this three-year-old is a better type of horse.
Now winning his handicap this gelding could be Ascot bound
in June and could be one to note. The yard obviously thinking highly of him.
As the sun set, the party continued, a Beatles tribute band
playing to the enthusiastic crowd looking for a right Royal party.
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