As the flat racing fraternity is still getting over French
dressing from the weekend, Windsor racecourse starts to countdown it’s last
three meetings of the 2015-16 season.
The great and the good were on display, not only in
horseflesh but trainers and jockeys a like, and with fine late autumn weather
and eight races on the card the good to soft ground bought some fine racing.
The first race a six-furlong maiden for three year olds,
Henry Candy saddled 7/2 favourite Santorini to take the race by a length from Bella’s
Venture.
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| Santorini |
Ridden by Dane O’Neill the three-year-old maiden stayed on
to take his race well.
By Tagula out of a Whipper mare,the gelding took a race
that I would say could spring up a hatful of winners, a blanket
separating the first seven horses home.
Still revelling over the yards fantastic Prix De La Foret
win with stable star Limatoe the trainer seemed in fine spirits, despite a major
piece of travelling over the past twelve hours.
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| Ridden by Dane O’Neill the three-year-old maiden stayed on to take his race well. |
A fair few horses to notebook in this one,but one to note
was third placed Hurricane Rock out of the Simon Dow yard. Idled a little in
the stalls, but finished strong, jockey John Egan having difficulty pulling
up.
But a good open race to boot,few to many to watch.
The next two races were a divided maiden stakes for two year
olds over the Windsor mile.
Glorious Forever won division one, beating Dettori on John
Gosden’s Jewel House by a neck.
Ridden by George Baker fresh off his first
group one success in the Prix Du Cadran on Quest for More,who mentioned, ‘He is a
big type of horse that has been given plenty of time, he has idled a bit in
front and as Frankie has come to join me he has gone on. He is a horse that has
potential for sure.’
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| Glorious Forever |
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| Ryan Moore |
Division two of the maiden saw another successful jockey
from the weekends French elegance continue in winning ways.
Ryan Moore on Sir
Michael Stouts Adamant took the race by a length and a quarter from again Mr
Dettori on Hugo Palmer's Munawer.
The good looking Dalakhan colt seems a horse to note for
next season and looks the type to improve.
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| Ryan Moore on Sir Michael Stouts Adamant took the race by a length and a quarter from again Mr Dettori on Hugo Palmer's Munawer. |
The jockey in no mood for media during the afternoon, but more
like having his fill of questions about his success in the Prix De l’arc.
But
to be sure the success for the jockey did not stop under the shadows of the
palace of Chantilly.
Geneva Convention, Ryan Moore on top took the mile
two-year-old handicap by half a length from the favourite Calibration ridden by
Jim Crowley.
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| Geneva Convention, (far left) Ryan Moore on top took the mile two-year-old handicap |
Trained by Richard Hannon, whom himself having a double for the
afternoon, Skeaping taking the claiming stakes under Pat Dobbs who is off in October
to Dubai to see out the British winter.
Both horses looked
very nice types, well bred to boot.
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| Skeaping |
Geneva Convention by Clodovil out of a Galileo mare, will
now more likely be put away until his three-year-old campaign, but a horse well
liked by the Marlborough trainer.
Skeaping by Excellent Art, again out of a Galileo mare, and wearing blinkers, this three-year-old beating the favourite Cold Fusion
in the claiming stakes. Both horses claimed for their asking price.
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| Skeaping by Excellent Art, again out of a Galileo mare. |
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| Geneva Convention |
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| Glorious Forever won division one, beating Dettori on John Gosden’s Jewel House by a neck. |
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| Adamant |
Harry Bentley was another jockey stopping at the Royal
Berkshire course, before going home from his excursions to France,
Wild
Hacked for the Marco Botti yard again beating Frankie Dettori by a short
margin, half a length on Gosden’s Stratum.
Bentley still rolled over after his win on Limatoe, squeezed
up between the Italian and the rails, holding on in the final few yards of the
race.
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| Wild Hacked (far left) for the Marco Botti yard again beating Frankie Dettori by a short margin, half a length on Gosden’s Stratum. |
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| Wild Hacked |
‘He has won well really, he is a type that has to carry
momentum through and I was always just in the space between Frankie and the
rail, when I’ve asked him to go through it his momentum has taken him.’
The three-year-old seems to have improved with a step up in
distance and was a pleasing winner for Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa who was in
attendance.
The combination of Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni,
disappointed on the promise of Promising in the Arc, yet no to be, made up for
it in some sorts with a nice win in the three-year-olds Handicap with Tiercel.
This very competitive race saw the Olden Times colt out of a
Diesis mare take the race on the line beating Outback Ruler trained by Clive
Cox by a neck.
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| Tiercel (right) Outback Ruler (left) |
‘He has always gone very well at home; the ground today
wasn’t really to his liking but his class has seen him through. He has a
lengthy stride which we haven’t really been able to use on the top of the
ground.’
The colt now will more like be put away until next season,
but again was a pleasing win for Prince Faisal who graced the Berkshire turf.
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| ‘He has always gone very well at home; the ground today wasn’t really to his liking but his class has seen him through.' |
As with Promising no excuses from the Newmarket trainer, the
A game just did not cross the English Channel. But as the yard mentions we live
to look on to next year.
To complete proceedings, the eighth race was a five furlongs’
dash for amateur riders.
Fourteen runners to post 20/1 shot Frangarry ridden by
nineteen-year-old Jessica Cooley, trained by Newmarket based Alan Bailey took
the race by ¾ of a length from Head Space.
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| Frangarry |
The young amateur on her first winner,
the only other handful of rides coming on a few horses under rules and in Arab
racing was delighted with the win, the four-year-old unable to get off the
maiden streak in fourteen runs.
‘The yard hasn’t had a greatest of seasons, so it was good
to get another win in, hope the boss is happy with me.’ Asked about turning professional? ‘if I can
get my weight down then yes I’d love to turn apprentice.’
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| ‘That was amazing, he travelled so well.' |
The image above says it all smiles all around, not only for
Jessica but all that attended this bumper card on the most quality of
afternoons.
More Windsor meetings throughout the season can be seen at
