Johnny Murtagh takes High Award in Woodcote Stakes
Given the firepower that Aidan O’Brien brings to Epsom for the Derby meeting it would probably have been long odds on the first Irish-trained winner at the fixture not coming from Ballydoyle.
However, the Coolmore Stud syndicate’s banner was still flying when High Award won the Listed Investec Woodcote Stakes for Tommy Stack. Having won his debut run at the Curragh, High Award then put up another couple of creditable runs in decent company in Ireland without winning.
But the experience of those runs was invaluable to Johnny Murtagh as the pair came home one-and-a-half lengths clear of Dubawi Gold. Fozzy Stack, representing his father said: “He’s always gone quite well at home and he did it quite well the first day at the Curragh. We were a bit worried that he had a hard race on deep ground so we gave him a bit of a break and we were probably just a bit easy in the meantime between his last couple of races. He probably needed his last race and that’s just put him right for today.”
Thoughts of a run at Royal Ascot may have to be worked around possible runners from the O’Brien yard but Stack will have a choice between the Coventry, Norfolk or Windsor Castle Stakes.
If there are any headaches for the trainer nothing seems to bother the horse according to Stack Jnr, who said: “I don’t think that’ll bother him – all he does is eat, sleep, drink and lie down. Johnny seems to think six is his trip and if he’s good enough over six it’ll do.”
The Stuart Williams-trained Bertoliver a shock winner for locally-born rider Jack Mitchell in the Investec Entrepreneurial Class ‘Dash’ Handicap.
“Epsom has been a lucky course for me and I won this a couple of years ago with Hogmaneigh,” said Williams. “It was always the plan to jump out and get the rail. I had a good walk of the track yesterday and thought the rail was an advantage, especially as the other horses with speed were drawn wide. I think that just made the difference. On his best form and with that draw I thought he had a chance.”
Mitchell worried that his chance may have gone when his saddled slipped in the last few yards of the race and said: “I felt my saddle slip about 10 yards before the line - I felt it go with my left leg and I slanted over to the left of the horse - but luckily he was good enough and I could pull him up.
“The plan was always to try and make the running as soon as I could and I had a lucky draw in 15. I had to bounce him out and get a nice position early. I just had that little bit extra to kick and we probably nicked it.”
Mitchell, whose father, Philip, trained in Epsom, first rode at the track in the Shetland Derby aged 15. “I grew up in Epsom and there is always such a buzz to ride a winner here. It’s a real thrill.”
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