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.
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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.’
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| 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.
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| 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.’
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| Lady Macapa. |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Clovelly Bay, Bazooka, William Hunter |
