Monday 27 June 2016

QUALITY DAY TWO AT WINDSOR RACECOURSE


Billed as a family day, Windsor offered seven races for racegoers coming out for their Sunday rest bite. 
Two very nice class two races on offer, on ground improving from the day before. From soft, heavy in places to good to soft.
The first race a maiden fillies stakes over a mile, local trainer Hughie Morrison sent out three of the eight runners. Champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa in attendance drew favourite money onto his mount Dame Judy.

Young 7 lbs claimer George Wood though took his mount Ejayteekay to the front two furlongs out beating Pat Dobbs mount Excellent sounds, both trained by Morrison by five lengths. 

Young 7 lbs claimer George Wood though took his mount Ejayteekay to the front two furlongs out 

The 2/1 shot seemed to relish the softer ground, taking his first victory in nine starts.

But I feel attention should be bought to the 25/1 second placed horse Excellent sound, owned by Helena Springfield the three-year-old on her second run seems to be an improving sort, and very nicely put together and should be one to be kept a close eye on.

 Not taking away from the winner though who won her race well.

Only five runners for the three year old five furlong handicap, champion jockey De Sousa on good form riding for William Knight on top weight Lady Macapa
The 11/4 shot made all in the dash being driven along by the jockey on a roll at present taking the race by a length from favourite This is for you, trained by Andrew Balding.
The nice sized three-year-old never firing as a two-year-old seems to have come into her own with patient training.
The trainer mentioning,’ We looked at this race just really to get her back on track, it seemed a straight forward race, Silvestre giving her a straight forward ride.’
 Champion jockey De Sousa on good form riding for William Knight on top weight Lady Macapa. 
The three-year-old by Equiano with her second win from nine starts seems a type that would want the cut in the ground, and despite a 7 lbs handicap or more from her rivals seems a nice improving type.

The afternoon did not stop there for the duo of Knight and De Sousa. Goodwood Zodiac took the mile and quarter handicap in fine style, beating four others by a length and a half Rockspirit from the Marco Botti yard in second. 
Given a patient ride by the champion jockey the Kodiak gelding seemed to cut through his rivals with ease making it three wins from nine starts for the three-year-old.
Given a patient ride by the champion jockey the Kodiak gelding seemed to cut through his rivals 
Owned by the Goodwood Racehorse owners group, the trainer mentioned, ‘he might be contender at Goodwood for the July Meeting, there is a number of mile and a quarter, or mile and a half races to choose from, we will have to see what’s available, but that is possibly the plan.’

Lady Macapa. 
Goodwood Zodiac

The class two fillies’ conditions race, saw five to post, 4/5 fav Mrs Danvers ridden by Ryan Clark, trained in by Lambourn based Jonathan Portman took the race by two and a half lengths from the Richard Hannon trained Blue Suede.
‘She is very much an improving sort,’ mentioned the jockey. ‘She has won both her her starts now and there is plenty left to improve still.’ 




The grey filly by Hellvelyn seems to be a two-year-old that needs a keen eye on as she develops in herself, and on the track. Not wanting the top of the ground she seems to be a type that could be something very nice for the Lambourn trainer.





Mrs Danvers ridden by Ryan Clark,
The only other class two race of the afternoon went in the way of the ambassador of Windsor racecourse Andrew Balding.
Kingston Kurrajong ridden by Jimmy Quinn took the race by a neck from Sir Michael Stouts Grand inquisitor in a close fought finish from a furlong out.
‘This fella has answered a lot of questions for me in that final furlong, I’ve taken the race up from the junction which is a long way out at Windsor.’ Mentioned the experienced Quinn. ‘He is a nice horse and deserved the win, and shown how good he is today.’
The three-year-old by Authorized with only nine starts to date and two wins, the last one at Chester in August would seem to have a nice race in him for the back end of the season, versatile with the going there are a number of nice mile races for the 7/1 shot to be aimed for, it would not surprise me to see this one at the July Newmarket meeting aiming for a three timer.
Kingston Kurrajong ridden by Jimmy Quinn took the race by a neck from Sir Michael Stouts Grand inquisitor in a close fought finish from a furlong out.
The penultimate race, was another qualifier for the £75’000 prize for the sprint series held at the Berkshire course.
Pat Cosgrove on the Jim Boyle trained Black Bess took the race by a length and a half from Wayward Hoof. The three-year-old by Dick Turpin, stood and delivered in the final furlong and stayed on well for Cosgrove whose last win on the soft at Lingfield seems to prove the horse needs the cut in the ground.



The trainer mentioned, 'The pace of the race probably wasn’t quick enough for him really, he got the six furlongs well but would possibly need seven. 
It’s a nice series to have a crack at and well worth the gamble at the drop in distance.’ 

The filly looking like she will be heading for the final in August,and could be a contender if the ground is on the softer side, the true pace makers at six furlongs not being a worry to the trainer.


Pat Cosgrove on the Jim Boyle trained Black Bess 
The final race of the afternoon, a one mile three furlong handicap went in the way of the royal Ascot winning due of Alan King and William Twiston-Davies.
Fresh from the success with Primitivo in the King George V stakes. William Hunter took the race by a head from the Champion jockeys mount Bazooka in a hard forced finish, the top three horses getting very close to each other prompted a steward’s enquiry but to no reprimand, as the young jockey pinched the race from the champion.
William Hunter took the race by a head from the Champion jockeys mount Bazooka in a hard forced finish
A patient ride from Twiston- Davies, who mentioned,’ he idled a little in front, but he is a horse on the up.’ 
The four-year-old like the jockey switching roles from under rules to the flat seems to approve of the life without jumps, not being out of the first five on his last few starts on the flat.
Clovelly Bay, Bazooka, William Hunter
Part three of the racing festival next, with the usual Monday night racing at Windsor to come.