The first evening meeting at the Royal Berkshire racecourse
saw a bumper crowd supporting a generous gesture by the management to open the
gates for free to pre booked racegoers.
Eight early season races went on offer to the enthusiastic
crowd. Top trainers entering their new intakes to find out more about them.
The first race a novice maiden filly’s stake over the five
furlongs.
Windsor regular David Evans sent his top weighted filly Fastest Spin
to post, Cathy Gannon on board.
By fastest Rock out of a good mare by Pivotal
the filly held onto her race well and showed her form on paper that she could
improve was spot on.
The next race also went to the top weight. A five furlong
handicap contest for four year olds and upwards.
Robert Winston riding the dean
Ivory mount Stake Acclaim.
The mud loving gelding by Acclamation backing up his
handicap win on the Newmarket turf last season, running in between time on all
weather tracks.
‘The horse has so much natural speed, and in these conditions
I had the field beat half way.’ Mentioned Winston, showing that the horse had developed well from a two year old. And has shown constancy, and would be one to
improve again, and be one for the future.
Stake Acclaim winning the five furlong handicap at Royal Windsor.
Newmarket based Charlie Fellows saddle the winner of the third,
a one mile two furlong maiden. Baadi off the weight of ten stone gave champion
jockey hopeful Andrea Atzeni and early winner at the Berkshire course.
The four
year old out of the Roger Charlton yard last season. Has been well traveled throughout his career, winning a maiden contest in June at Ripon.
In his first
run for his new yard the gelding showed that he had to be pressured by Atzeni from a
long way out, grinding the opposition into submission before the winning line.
The front runner looked from the off a winner of this
contest the jockey mentioning that he would of been the best horse in the race.
Baadi, Andrea Atzeni
Atzeni not shying away from his intentions into challenging for the champion jockeys crown over the coming months, especially
when riding horses such as Postponed trained by Roger Varian aimed for Royal
Ascots Coronation Cup.
The feature race of the evening was the six furlongs 5 star
handicap stakes, a class three event for four year olds and upwards.
Veteran trainer Milton Bradley sent his six year old by
Royal Applause over the Severn Bridge to take on the race. Aptly called
Englishman the gelding ridden by Franny Norton broke well from the stalls.
Englishman
The favourite for the race David Evans’ Flowers of Venus
never got into the contest to allow the 7/1 shot to take the spoils.
‘This is the second time round for this fella, and I'm really
happy for the boss, we have a few nice ones in at the moment so it’s all
looking good.’ The horse that on previous runs has not shown his form he had in
earlier years used to be trained by Charlie hills, and it is hoped by
connections that he has now settled in his new environment and will regain
winning ways.
Englishman,Franny Norton win the 5 star Gallop handicap stakes
David Evans in the next race answered any doubters though
when he saddled Moojaned in the next, a one mile three furlongs handicap.
Again a beaten favourite in Dean Ivory’s Goldslinger, the
Raven’s Pass five year old made all ridden by 3 lbs claimer Phillip prince, who flesh
from his win over hurdles in Jersey, rode a confident race to beat Allnecessaryforce in second and his
bosses Andrew Balding’s Brandon Castle in third.
The young jockey mentioned, ‘this fella is a relentless
galloper and stays all day, in soft ground the plan was to make all and see how
it goes.’ The jockey still committed to the flat despite his hurdles victory mentioned
the ride in Jersey was a ‘bit of fun’
Trainer David Evans, who often sends horses from his
Abergavenny yard to Windsor on a double for the evening, and is one to watch
throughout the season on the Berkshire course.
Moojaned
The distance race of the evening was taken for Newmarket in
the shape of Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Cat Royale. Ridden by another three pound
claimer Danny Brock.
Cat Royale, Danny Brock.
Again at the submission of another favourite in Mick Channon’s
October Storm, the three year old colt by Lilbourn Lad who has not run on the
turf for a fair while seemed to go on the softened ground to take the race.
‘He’s
won on the dirt at Kempton over a mile and half, turned up here and liked the
ground and done the business.’
Brock disappointed on not having a double for
his evenings work when his fancied ride Dolphin Village in the previous race
failed to place. ‘Dolphin just tied up with me a bit today which was disappointing, but there will be another day for him to be sure.’
Cat Royale, Danny Brock beats Argyle in the one mile three furlong Handicap
The final race of the evening in failing light was another
sharp six furlongs event. Mick Channon again sending off the favourite in
Potternello.
But it was an outsider Secret Look, ridden by Martin Dwyer
and trained in Lichfield by Ed McMahon who took the race.
The six year old
Shakee’s Secret gelding that’s form had not been too great previous seemed to
have lost his confidence over his last runs.
Secret Look, Martin Dwyer
Dwyer who had never ridden the
gelding before mentioned ‘Ed mentioned to me to try to get him to enjoy his
racing, as he knew he would finish.’
Finish he did beating some progressive,
handy types left in behind.
More flat racing drama at Windsor to come this season.
See that and other meeting at WWW.MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK |