Not the sun drenched Windsor we have come to expect in a spring that will probably go down as one of the driest we have seen.
The ground good/good to firm, and the first Windsor evening meeting for me saw two year olds that looked okay, three year olds not so good, but the older horses looking very well.
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| Declarationoflove takes up the running in the two year old novices stakes |
The first race a five furlongs two year old dash, saw a first for the Berkshire course for a new kid on the block, Newmarket based Tom Clover sent out his first winner of his training career.
Clover based at the foot of Warren Hill at flat racings H.Q and former assistant trainer to David Simmcock.
With eighteen runners so far to claim his first winner was a thrilling experience for the young trainer who claimed the services of Andrea Atzeni to steer his two year old by Declaration of War, aptly named Declarationoflove to beat the 9/4 favourite Spoof from the Charles Hill yard by two lengths.
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| Declarationoflove, three trips to the races seems a type that if the top of the ground persists then should show again for sure |
The jockey mentioned 'I got a lead into the race nicely and he is a horse that has done it well in the end, he'd be a type that would come on form that.'
The youngster not out of the first four on his three trips to the races seems a type that if the top of the ground persists then should show again for sure.
Second race of a six race card saw the three year olds on display, who in my mind did not look all that great throughout the entire card during the evening. Michael Bell sent his Crompton Place gelding out the well priced 5/1 favourite to take the six furlongs handicap near to the line in a superb ride from Jamie Spencer.
The runners in all races choosing to come off the rail slightly to find the better going at the track saw Hart Stopper in his fifth run claim his first victory.
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| Hart Stopper squeezes through to take the six furlong hnadicap |
The jockey mentioning, 'the horse has done that well in the end, he is not a bad type and should go on from that.'
The jockey not giving much away,the training mentioning he was impressed by the ride and now hoped the drop back from seven furlongs may well see the three year old come on.
A good win for the Newmarket based trainer, but one to watch possible as the season progresses.
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| Hart Stopper and Jamie Spencer |
Halfway through the card, and we now turned to the mile horses for a three year old maiden stakes. Fourteen to post and another beaten favourite as the 100/30 Rumpole stayed on well to beat 7/4 favourite Daria place by two lengths.
The Lawman gelding only on his second outing ran on well from a keenly run race the jockey and Windsor favourite Adam Kirby mentioning,' he is the type today that was in the right place at the right time, he is a nice mover and seems a good type,Royal Ascot may just though be a bit too soon for him but we'll have to see.'
Local trainer Hughie Morrison though a little more optimistic for a trip to the Royal meeting also was impressed by the geldings efforts,mentioned his Sagaro stakes winner may well team up with the three year old with a trip to Ascot and go at the Gold cup, the yard reporting that some nice stayer's are coming out of the East Isley Yard at present.
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| Hughie Morrison trained Rupole takes the mile three year old maiden |
Back to Newmaket that came down to the Berkshire course in force for the evening. Chris Appleby sent out his 8/1 shot Silken Dance to take the one mile two furlongs maiden for the three year olds for the Godolphin team beating stable mate Cross step also owned by the famous blue colours by a couple of lengths.
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| Silken Dance (red cap) coming through from the unplaced Godolphin horse Sea Skimmer |
Jockey William Buick mentioned the Dubawi three year old on his first trip to the races couldn't have started his career any better really, the horse moving well through the field and staying on well in the end.
Three of the Godolphin horses in the mix, the Appleby horse seeming to come out the best, the third horse out of the Suroor yard.
One to watch, as well as the second placed horse Cross step as the season continues.
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| Jockey William Buick mentioned the Dubawi three year old on his first trip to the races couldn't have started his career any better really |
Roger Varian sent out his four year old Shargiah to take the one mile two furlong handicap in a close finish between the first four home.
Andrea Atzeni on a double for the evening bough home the new Approach older horse going away in the end from the rest of the field, the 11/4 favourite Prendergast Hill a length and a neck back in third.
Two wins in five starts shows this horse is no slouch, but it remains to see what the horse has beaten as the season goes on, a win is a win I suppose, But one to get excited about? well, the jury is out on that one.
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| Shargiah takes the one mile two furlong handicap in a close finish between the first four home. |
As the light was failing the Berkshire course, the usual finale to the evening a one mile three four year olds handicap was taken by Lambourn resident Sylvester Kirk with Spinners Ball, ridden by five pounds claimer Mitch Godwin,who led on the final stride to take the race from David Probert on one of the smallest four year olds I have possibly seen in The Otmoor Poet.
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| Spinners Ball on the outside of The Otmoor Poet to take the one mile three furlongs four year old handicap |
The 100/30 shot on two wins from nine starts seemed to battle on well, and proved the tack tick of running off the stand side rail all evening pays off getting up by a short head to take the race from the 20/1 shot second paced horse.
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| Spinners Ball |
More Monday night action to come over the season, keep in touch with
