Soft ground and late summer evening sunshine saw a good sized audience come out to the Berkshire racecourse, not only for the sixties entertainment after racing, but also to support the solid entrants for the six races on offer. Only a few backed out due to the unsuitable going due to the deluge of rain over the weekend in the Royal county, this not though making much difference to the good sport on offer for a mid summer Monday evening meeting.
The first race saw fourteen sprightly fillies take to the six furlong tack for a novice auction stakes. 7/1 shot Villa Savina bringing home the race for Lambourn based Clive Cox, a trainer with a good recorded around the figure of eight track. The two year old under the guidance of Sam Hitchcott held her line well as second a third placed horses Sweet Vixen and Pat Cosgrave and Charles Bishop on Bhindi veered over to the middle of the course within the final half furlong.
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| Villa Savina (left) brings home the race for Lambourn based Clive Cox. The two year old under the guidance of Sam Hitchcott held her line well as second a third placed horses Sweet Vixen and Pat Cosgrave and Charles Bishop on Bhindi (right) veered over to the middle of the course within the final half furlong |
The stewards looking into the placing reversing the second and third in the stewards room.
Of the winner, the jockey on his tenth winner of the season mentioned,' I ride her a fair bit at home and she has always been a straight forward sort. We knew if she jumped out well enough today she would go close and she has done that to be fair.
Trainer Clive Cox, no stranger to the winners enclosure at the Berkshire track mentioned, ' We had her brother in the yard also Ticks the Boxes and he won his maiden here also, but she is a nice sort that didn't sell at the yearling sales due to a scar over her knee, but we're delighted to have her and she has took her race well today.'
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| Villa Savina |
The yard in fine form at present with six winners from the last twenty two entrants, with many good entries in place over the next few months certainly seems a outfit to follow, as well as this nice big sort of a two tear old by Elusive Pimpernel. Take note of all i would say.
The next race a mile three furlong fillies handicap was taken by the Ed Walker trained Di Alta by three quarters of a length from Jive Talking from the Michael Bell yard.
Ridden by Thomas Brown the three year old well bred filly by High Chaparral out of a Caerleon mare has progressed from her second place at Doncaster at the beginning of the month. 'Around the bend she switched off a bit for me but picked up well again when i wanted her to. When in front she didn't really want to do a lot, but she has made easy work of the race in the end.' Mentioned a jockey who works hard to get his rides, when opportunities come he rarely is wanting.
The trainer Ed Walker more readily praising the works of the jockey mentioned,' Tom works very hard for us at home and it is good to give him the chance to show what he can do, this filly is not the easiest of horse to get on with at home, she is hard work going on and coming off the gallops and Tom has done a lot of that work with her, but she stays well and seems to have improved as she has gone on, for sure she has plenty of character.'
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| Di Alta (left) takes the mile three furlong fillies handicap by three quarters of a length from Jive Talking (right). |
10/1 shot Fast and Hot took the one mile two furlong handicap in fine style. Out of the yard of Richard Hannon and ridden by a young seventeen year old Irishman Rossa Ryan who is on a lot of knowledgeable lips as being a young lad to watch, the Fastnet Rock four year old took to the winners enclosure again under the young apprentice.
The grey who looked all the winner two out was soon clear at the furlong pole, Ryan doing all with hand and heels to maintain a straight path for the grey now on four wins from twenty two starts.
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| Fast and Hot |
'This fella has played a big part in my season so far, and it proves that he needs this soft ground. But he is a honest horse and gives all for you, it's all thanks to the owners and the boss (Richard Hannon) for giving me the chance.'
Only being at the Hannon yard since February the young pony racing graduate with seven winners to his name certainly seems appreciative to all that has helped him on his was. 'God willing we can get to double figures by the end of the season and go on from there.'
This horse seemed to relish track conditions and distance, a fourth at Goodwood on good ground shows the grey needs to dig his toe in. It would not surprise me to see this one picking up another at the Berkshire course in the early autumn, and would be sweet justice if it were to give the young jockey his tenth winner.
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| The grey who looked all the winner two out was soon clear at the furlong pole, Ryan doing all with hand and heels to maintain a straight path for the grey now on four wins from twenty two starts. |
Next up was another qualifier for the Windsor sprint series, the final of which is held at the Berkshire course in August. British weather seasons not as predictable as in past years we could not predict soft ground, but if the horses can get their toe in the turf we may of seen a fancied runner for the final winning this qualifier. Atletico ridden by Andrea Atzeni, trained by Roger Varien ran on to take the race by two lengths from Wiley Post.
'Coming into that race everything has suited him, he wants that ground and the trip suits him. He has won that well and he would want a bigger race now to take him one step further.'
By Kodiak out of a pivotal mare this gelding certainly has the breeding, not a blistering time over the five furlongs, the speedsters already qualified though may need the ground a little firmer, but if softer in August this one would certainly turn my eye.
The jockey certainly feels this five year old has something sizable in him with that give in the ground.
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| Atletico ridden by Andrea Atzeni, trained by Roger Varien wins the Windsor Sprint qualifier |
Al Mayda for Al Shaqab took the competitive older horse maiden, beating fifteen other in an impressive front running display, ridden out in the final furlong and holding off a late challenge from Atzeni and Varien with Fujaura Prince.
The Hugo Palmer trained three year old filly by Distorted Humor ridden by Harry Bentley looked impressive taking on from a start in what i felt was the most competitive race of the evening.
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| Al Mayda for Al Shaqab took the competitive older horse maiden. |
'It wasn't the plan to take it on from the start, but she jumped out the stalls well so i though if someone wants to take it on fine she was happy were she was so i left her to it,' mentioned the jockey.
The filly with a few runs under her belt showed for that experience and stayed on well in the giving ground. The jockey with Goodwood around the corner and a good book of rides both can only see a positive few months ahead. With three runs all not out of the first four she may be one to note as the season draws on, the time, quick for the mile two furlong trip.
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| The Hugo Palmer trained three year old filly by Distorted Humor ridden by Harry Bentley looked impressive taking on from a start what i felt was the most competitive race of the evening. |
A positive end to the evening as the eight runner mile handicap went to post.
7/4 shot Phillip Hide trained Dragons Voice gave a roar to the voice of the owners Heart of the South racing a syndicate that shows good support for both under rules and flat racing.
The trainer was reported to say before the race that the track going and trip suited this three year old by Poet's Voice to the tea, and though hanging right in the final furlong stayed on well for Richard Kingscote who mentioned,' I'm delighted for the owners who are having a bit of success with this one, it was good to get a winner out of this evening.' the jockey hot tailing back to the weighing room to get changed and on his way home.
The trainer ever modest about his winner said,' I'm delighted with him the way he finished his race off today and we would possibly consider towards the end of the season steeping up the trip to a mile quarter. But this evening with solid runs behind him i felt he had a very good chance.'
With six trips to the races, two wins and two places i feel this one could be one to watch on his progression.the trainer honest enough to say when he will win and the possible plan for him, we may have to wait until an ideal trip is found before taking this one too seriously.
Phillip Hide trained Dragons Voice gave a roar to the voice of the owners Heart of the South racing a syndicate that shows good support for both under rules and flat racing.
A couple of weeks break from Windsor Blogs at present, but be sure we will be back again. Also Fontwell Park Blogs will be starting again soon as the Sussex track prepares to come back after it's holidays.
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