DEAD HEATS, DEADLINES AND DOUBLES ALL AT WINDSOR RACECOURSE FINALE

DEAD HEAT IN THE SKYBET CASH OUT HANDICAP

The last Royal Windsor racecourse meeting of 2017 gave those racegoers who came out after the Champions day meeting at Ascot and extended treat. Eight races on the card all  well subscribed as all the past few meetings have been at the Royal county racecourse.
Hats have to be taken off to Windsor, the last three meetings being the climax of the flat season have been well booked with class, entries and races. This led to today's meeting being a humdinger. Dead heats and popular trainers with doubles gave those punters something to cheer about as the evenings and days start to get shorter.
The going classed as good to soft saw the first race start off with pace over the five furlongs for the two year olds. Trainer John Quinn sending Zeebedee youngster Lord Riddiford to post the 7/4 favorite could only manage fourth spot as the race went to a good run for the horse placed runner up on his last two outings Iconic Knight out of the Ed Walker yard and ridden by  Liam Keniry.

Iconic Knight on the rail with the impressive Big Brave Bob upsides in the closing stages

The jockey mentioned that the son of Sir Prancealot had always showed promise at home. 'He went through the ground well and it was good finally to get his head in front, it will certainly do his confidence some good and we can work on from here.'
The colt clinging to the rail at the final stages certainly showed willing and in the paddock looks a nice sort and has beaten a nice looking horse from the Richard Hughes yard Big Brave Bob that would i feel need attention as he continues his racing career, the colt by Big Bad Bob out of a Swain mare looked very impressive in the paddock. On his maiden run the colt only beaten two lengths by a horse more experienced, looks the type that would need to be watched.
A good two year old race, nothing explosive by both first and second placed colts need to be remembered.

Iconic Knight

Trainer George Scott and jockey Hayley Turner took the next a three year olds and above Handicap over the one mile two furlongs.

Road to Dubai made an effortless run to the front two furlongs out and ran well onto the line for Hayley to beat Bazooka from the yard of David Flood by a length.
'He's a horse that dos'nt really want bullying too much in the final stages and i have been mindful of that today, but as he goes on he has become more confident and less stressed by his racing and enjoying it.'
The three year old by Aqlaam out of a Singspeil mare won the race easing down and was reported to be a horse to watch for next season.

With the favorite in the race Luna Jet from the John Mackie yard well down the field, the winner may be one to note. The jockey now this season with winners in this country after her decision to come out of retirement and in her new found home France certainly also is on good form at present, Hollie Doyle on runner up Bazooka, who didn't really want to come out of the parade ring at the start. Is on thirty one winners for the season also riding well.

Road to Dubai

Favorite backers in the next race a six furlongs claiming stakes, got their just rewards as the 11/10 shot Ballesteros from the northern yard of Richard Fahey came home the two length winner from  12/1 shot The big Lad from the Richard Hughes yard.
With only seven runners in the field the money at post was going on the champion apprentice recently crowned David Egan's mount Gilmer coming in from 13/2 to 4/1. But ex champion jockey Paul Hanagan getting home his eight year old Gelding owned by Dr Koukash in fine style.
The horse claimed for £7000 by Roger Ingram has had his confidence done no harm by his consistent runs and may be a valued purchase for his new owners with nine wins from seventy six starts.

Ballesteros from the northern yard of Richard Fahey came home the two length winner from  12/1 shot The big Lad from the Richard Hughes yard.

The mile handicap was again a race to back against the favorite, 8/1 shot Ghalib trained by Amy Murphy and ridden by Richard Kingscote was ridden clear from the three pole winning easily from Richard Fahey's horse Dark Devil who was looking for a quick double for the trainer.

'It was just a shame last time out he met a horse one better when running the race of his life.

The five year old on his fourth trip to the winners enclosure improving on his second place over course and distance back at the beginning of September ran well from the front and looked well with a softer surface to run on the jockey who dropped his whip in the final stages of the race mentioning,'he is coming back to some sort of form at the moment, i had no worries about letting him stay up with the pace as i knew he would stay.'
The market not showing the same confidence as the rider allowed the Lope De Vega gelding to drift in price. Trainer Amy Murphy mentioned,'he has got a little wiser in his old age but has always been a horse that has tried for you it was just a shame last time out he met a horse one better when running the race of his life. Before this run we had got him into the horses in training sales but we may have to look at that now and keep him going while he is back to his best.'

Ghalib trained by Amy Murphy and ridden by Richard Kingscote

The five furlong dash for the older hoses saw thirteen to post, the winner Flowing Clarets coming from the popular trainer at Windsor John Bridger's yard and ridden by Mitch Godwin claiming 3 lbs off the four year olds back. Wandering slightly across to second placed horse 7/4 favorite  Awesome Allan the  jockey had to work for his keep in keeping the Pastoral Pursuits filly to her task eventually taking the race by  couple of lengths.
'It's taking me a few rides to get used to her, but i think we have it know, she has got the ground she likes today and i was please we went over to the far side rail really, she always hangs left and i had the rail to help me today. We should of won at Goodwood really, but when ridden right she is a tough sort.

Flowing Clarets 

The trainer not stooping at that with winners for the day saddled two horses in the one  mile three furlong amateur riders handicap. One horse being the sixteen year old Megalala, the other the winner Betsolottie ridden by Ben James. The jockey a replacement for the original choice Russ Birkett rode the horse well encouraging the grey four year old to pull out the stops and beat Seventii from the the Robert Eddery yard and ironically ridden by Birkett by a short head.
'It was great i could show my appreciation to Mr Bridger for putting me up with his second winner of the day,' mentioned the assistant trainer to Micheal Bell.'The ground was not really to his suiting but this horse is all heart and it is know six winners for me from thirty five rides, but i really enjoy going out there, especially riding horses like this one.'

Betsolottie and Seventii battle out the finish

The trainer who had the whole family at the Berkshire course to cheer on his charges mentioned, ' This horse really battles it out so i have had a good day today, we nearly got stuck for a jockey but Russ Birkett my original choice of rider put James forward.' and what about his other runner the sixteen year old Megalala? 'He is okay no worries, but we will probably retire him now and find him a nice home to go to.'
Family fun for all on the last meeting at Windsor. Not only for the family but trainer too.

Flowing Clarets (left) battles out the finish in the five furlong handicap with Mercers (right) who finished fourth 

Betsolottie (grey horse centre)  is pushed out by Ben James to take the one mile three furlong amateur riders race

The past few afternoon meetings at Windsor one race per card has attracted enough entries late on in the season to split division a race.The same again a one mile handicap for three year olds and up attracted twenty three runners over the two divisions, the first of which was taken by the 11/10 favorite from the John Flint yard at Cherry tree Stables Love and be loved .  Ridden by William Cox the three year old by Lawman out of a High Chaparral mare was ridden out three out, edged slightly right in the closing stages,but still ran out his race to a two length win over Edgar Allan Poe.

Love and be loved ridden by William Cox

'She has always jumped out well from the stalls and that has managed to allow me to get a breather into her turning into home, but we are very happy with her,' mentioned the jockey on his sixteenth winner. The filly now on four wins from fourteen starts maybe one to just watch at present where she will go with three wins from the last three runs, with only five coming from the yard of John Flints he has certainly found the key to this filly., the trainer mentioning, she is a fantastic gutsy little filly, the trip and ground suited her fine, we were hoping for ground like this anyway and we think she could improve slightly from this, but we are delighted with today.'

Divison two saw the most exiting race of the day. Three horses battling to the line, who got over first?
Hard to split by the judges so they awarded a dead heat between 9/1 shot International Law from the Brian Meehan yard, and  13/2 shot East Coast Lady from the William Stone yard. Both horses ridden by champion apprentices, Tom Marquand riding for Brian Meehan and recently crowned champion apprentice David Egan  riding East Coast Lady.

International Law from the Brian Meehan yard, fancied in the betting coming in from 10-1 to 15/2

Wondering what jockey to talk to first, i plumbed for the recently crowned champion apprenticed David Egan who mentioned,' two champion apprentices in the end battling it out for the race, i though i was second to be fair so feel the luckier of the two, i said to Tom over the line that i thought he had got me, but my filly just keeps battling she is a game sort, she did the same sort of thing at Leicester on her last run and win she kept going to the line.'
The jockey who was crowned champion apprentice at the weekend at the Champions meeting at Ascot, all he had to say to that was 'long may it continue.
Tom Marquand mentioned about his winner International Law, 'he has had a few tendency's in the past, but he is a lovely big horse and today  has been a little more game in his running.'
Both horses with seven wins between them, this race may have been their finest hour but certainly gave the crowd something to cheer about as the evening drew in.

11/10 favorite from the John Flint  Stables, Love and be loved takes Div I of the one mile handicap

 International Law, East Coast Lady and third placed Caledonia Duchess

Well that wraps up this seasons Blogs from Mjayphotography &media at Royal Windsor 

you can see all blogs from the season as well as Fontwell Park, stable visits and point to points by clicking the link below.

Fontwell next for racing in a few weeks time, and only 5 weeks to go before the new point to point season awakens where blogs and Podcasts weather permitting will be weekly.

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