Gentlemen’s day at Windsor was to start a three-day festival of
flat racing at the Royal Berkshire course.
Seven races to be put before large
crowd, racing on ground recovering from the rain deluge had earlier in the
week, the going soft, heavy in places.
Trainer William Haggas who always has good fortune at the
Windsor track sent down 7-4 fav On her Toes to the six furlongs start for the Sky
Bet novices stakes for two year olds.
The daughter of Kodiak who aptly named, can be a handful at home and at the races seemed to settle well as she easily took
over the race in the final furlong to beat Mick Channon’s Racemaker.
Pat Cosgrove who rode the two-year-old, placed the filly with confidence
as he took the field over to the far rail on the testing ground, her only other
run finishing a good third at Yarmouth on firm ground.
Maureen Haggis the trainer’s wife representing the stable
mentioned,’ She can be a handful, Pat said she was a bit alive travelling to
the start, but as soon as she races she is fine, she is a nice type, well bred
and more to come from her.’
Owned by Cheveley park the two-year-old would be one to
watch.
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| On her Toes |
The second race, a maiden for three year olds and upwards was taken by another favorite. This time Andrew Baldings Dark shot ridden by
Oisin Murphy who ran on strongly in the final furlong after making all to beat Adam
Kirby on Silver bid by six lengths.
‘This horse needs a lot of confidence, and with the run and win
should have got that today,’ mentioned the jockey.
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| Andrew Baldings Dark shot ridden by Oisin Murphy |
The gelding by Acclamation having ten runs to date, seven of
those being in the placings.
Owned by Jeff Smith, this Littleton Stud bred horse
could be something to watch as he improves, as he certainly took this race
with great ease.
The first of the distance races came in the shape of a one
mile three furlong handicap.
Nine runners to post, the rain softened ground
certainly showed its hand as 11/2 shot Desert Encounter trained by David
Simcock and ridden by Tom Marquand held on well to beat Andrew Baldings
Passover by a length.
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| Desert Encounter |
The favorite Baadi a course and distance winner this season
not appreciating the ground could only manage a seven lengths fourth spot to
the winner, giving the bookies a little weekend cheer.
‘I’ve set my sight on the favorite, but soon as I was
passed him I went on, I thought I was in front too soon actually as he idled
bit in front, but he is a progressive sort.’ Mention the young jockey, who was
the fourth jockey to get on the gelding by Hailing in his seven starts.
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| ‘I’ve set my sight on the favorite, but soon as I was passed him I went on.' |
The next two races went in the way of the combination of Dr
Marwan Koukash, Richard Fahey and David Nolan.
The first of which was in the Windsor sprint series
qualifier.
This series in its first year to celebrate 150 years of
racing at the Berkshire course, holding the final in early autumn, this race
could have shown a possible contender for the £75’000 purse.
Growl took the race up in the final furlong and roared up
the straight to take the race by two lengths from Rio Ronaldo.
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| Growl |
The oasis Dream gelding up six pounds in weight from a win
at Nottingham two weeks ago showed he liked the softened ground, ground that
could possibly be on offer on final’s day of this series.
One to
put in the notebooks if this horse takes to the start. Dr Koukash certainly an
owner that likes these high priced handicaps.
The
next race for the trio came in the shape of 7/2 shot Gabriel over the mile
course. The seven-year-old on his fifty first visit to a racecourse showed his seniority
beating Roger Charlton’s Captain Cat by half a length.
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| Gabriel |
‘He always seems to run well here.’ Mentioned the jockey,’
He always tries hard in his races but just gets caught for pace sometimes, the
ground helped, it was good to get a win out of him.’
The race result held up though as the winner seemed to come
across the placed horses Captain Cat and Clotilde in the final furlong. Placings
remained unaltered though Pat Cosgrove on the third horse Clotilde certainly
being hampered.
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| ‘He always seems to run well here.’ |
Big priced 16/1 shot Specialv took the penultimate race, a handicap
for fillies over a mile.
Trained by the neighbour of Richard Fahey, trainer of
the last two races.
Brian Ellison in Malton, ridden by Stevie Donohoe the three-year-old
showed her last run at Thirsk was an unfortunate one as she got squeezed for
room two furlongs out,having more space at Windsor the filly held on well in
the final furlong to beat the 9/4 fav Red tea by a length.
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| Big priced 16/1 shot Specialv took the penultimate race |
The jockey mentioned,’ she was unlucky last time out, the ground
on her side also today, Brian’s a good trainer and you know if he sends one to
the races they have a chance.’
The final race a six furlongs’ sprint, twelve went to post, 9/2 shot Secret Look ridden by Kevin Stott and trained by Ed McMahon, backed
up the six-year-old gelding by Shakhee’s Secret win over course and distance in
April with a half a length win over Mick Channons Potternello.
This gelding
could be back again at the Berkshire course as the season draws to the end to
claim a three timer, as he certainly likes the track, winning know twice from
his five trips to the winner’s enclosure at the Berkshire course from thirty nine racecourse runs.
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| Secret Look ridden by Kevin Stott |
Day two of the
Windsor racecourse festival available soon
