Delegator returns with a stylish victory
As prep-runs go this was about as perfect as it gets.
One of last seasons’ star three year old’s, Delegator, returned to the track, following a break of 314 days, with a relatively easy victory in the Dubai Duty Free Cup. There were considerable fears pre-race about the Godolphin-trained colt’s fitness, as his much anticipated season debut had been delayed by a wart that had to be removed from his right leg, but those fears were squashed as the field approached the two furlong pole with Saeed Bin Suroor’s star cruising.
Ted Durcan, riding the colt for the first time, confidently pushed the leader to the front after he settled well at the back of the field and he looked like he was going to win in style, until he idled a little under pressure, which in truth is forgivable after being off the track for nearly a year.
Sir Gerry drew upsides the leader and did everything he could to get the better of his rival, including taking a nibble out of the eventual winner as the two battled to the line, but Delegator was always in command without expending too much energy.
Next on last season’s 2000 Guineas runner-up agenda looks to be the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot next Saturday, where he will take on the likes of Canford Cliffs and Makfi in a race which is shaping up to be a fantastic contest.
Usually the Group Three Arc Trial doesn’t do what is says on the tin, but this year’s renewal may have thrown up an rapidly improving type in Dangerous Midge that could indeed end up either going for success in Paris or a trip to the Breeders Cup.
Brian Meehan’s colt tracked the early leader Monitor Closely, and as all eyes were fixated on short-priced favourite Rainbow Peak, Dangerous Midge quickened impressively away from a field that included dual-Group One winner, Campanologist, to go onto score by six lengths. The well-backed favourite ran on for a clear second, but could have no excuses against the rapidly improving sort, who was taking on pattern company for the first time in his career.
Richard Hannon picked up his 420th two-year-old win this season with the improving Moriarty in the 30th Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes. Pat Dobbs stood in for usual jockey Richard Hughes, who was otherwise engaged at Newmarket, and rode the winner from the front as he held off a late challenge from Seattle Drive. Expect the impressive victor to be moving up to take his chance in Group races in the near future.
Hannon notched up a quick fire double half an hour later as Sister Red built on her debut performance by winning the Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises E B F Fillies´ Conditions Stakes. It was far from the strongest of fields but the winner showed a good turn of foot to power clear at the furlong pole, but the horse to take out of the race was Parvana, who flashed home from the back of the field.
At Ayr, the Bronze Cup gave an indication of who the draw might favour for tomorrow’s prestigious Ayr Gold Cup race as horses drawn high filled the first four places. The eventual winner Cheveton got a fantastic run through as horses on the stand’s side dominated from the front.
Artic Feeling was given a peach of a ride from Paul Hanagan to flash home late in the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes, which gave in-form trainer Richard Fahey his fourth winner of the meeting so far.
Meanwhile, at Newmarket, Khor Sheed came out on top in a ding-dong battle with Tale Untold in the Tattersalls Millions Fillies´ Auction Stakes. Despite giving her rival 5lbs in the weights, the Kieren Fallon factor proved decisive as the famous Fallon drive steered the two-year-old to the £55,769 prize. The front two pulled well clear of the remainder of the field, which suggests much like Moriarty earlier, a Group race victory could well be within their reaches.
William Buick was in the winners enclosure yet again as he steer Up In Time to a incredibly impressive seven length victory in the Warrens of Warwick Maiden Auction Stakes, a performance to suggest that a big-race entry could be on his agenda.
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