Castles In The Air a star on the International scene
The draw at Ascot can be something of a moveable feast but this meeting it seems to clearly favour the low-drawn horses.
Frankie Dettori proved that on the first day’s card when he won the opener by taking White Moonstone down the stands’ rail and that side dominated the finish of the Victoria Racing Club International Handicap.
Castles In The Air (pictured, pink jacket), a previous winner at this meeting, was drawn in stall 12 but Richard Hughes joined most of the field as it moved to the stands’ rail. He was well off the lead at halfway but a gap opened and that was all the opportunity that Hughes needed as he came through with a late run to win by a half-length from Noble Citizen.
Vicky Fahey, representing her husband, trainer Richard Fahey, said: “This horse certainly likes this card. Richard’s done a great job riding him today and we’re delighted. He’s a horse for the big handicaps and certainly likes it here.”
When asked about plans, Fahey, who rode the horse to success in the lady jockeys’ handicap last year, joked: “He’ll never get back to a mark for me to ride. But, as for plans he’ll obviously be stepped up in class again and the trainer will find the right race.”
Hughes did not feel that the horse really acted on the ground. “The ground might have been a little quick for him,” he said. “He usually travels a bit better than he did today, he was leaning a bit in the last furlong and struggled a bit. But we got luck in running and that’s what you need at this competitive level, a lot of luck. I find that you have no chance if you are up near the front - I was 10 lengths off the leaders.”
Richard Mullen’s main job on the card might have been to ride Confront as pacemaker for stable companion Workforce in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but he also showed that he can ride winners on Don’t Call Me in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap.
Bryan Smart has plotted a campaign with Don’t Call Me, after discovering that the horse had breathing problems, to win at Ayr to win at Beverley and Ayr and the hold-up tactics that had served so well. Mullen, who won the Super Sprint on Temple Meads at Newbury last Saturday, proved that all riding styles come as he weaved through horses to lead on Don’t Call Me in the last 50 yards as he came out best in a four-horse finish.
“He’s a horse you’ve just got to let find his stride,” Mullen said. “He’s had issues with his breathing before and these horses can tend to choke up if you do too much with them. I just left him be and halfway I was a long way back. But, once he got running, and he gets in that rhythm, you can just squeeze him along. And from two down I always thought he was going to get there and he’s still on an upward curve. ”
Serena Brotherton may not be your typical lawyer, but she is, literally, one you can bet on. A solicitor by profession she is also one of the leading lady jockeys and enjoyed her moment in the Ascot limelight when Rosko won the Longines Handicap.
The final furlong can be a lonely place for a leader but, having hit the front, Rosko stuck on gamely for Brotherton to win by a length. “We had them all beaten my side far too early,” she said. “He was really game to stay on because he was in the clear a good furlong-and-a-half. And he didn’t stop – it took me two furlongs to pull him up.”
http://www.senore.com/Harbinger-reigns-in-King-George-a18386http://www.senore.com/Memorable-win-for-Soraaya-in-Princess-Margaret-Stakes-a18381
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