Memory a strong reminder in Cherry Hinton
The two-year-old form from Royal Ascot was placed under scrutiny and came thorough enhanced at Newmarket.
Memory, who had won the Albany Stakes at the royal meeting, was a drifter in the market before the Group Two Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cherry Hinton Stakes. How quickly we forget.
Richard Hannon’s runner appeared to be in an impossible position, at the back of the field, with less than a furlong run. But her jockey, Richard Hughes, was not panicked as he switched the filly wide of the other six runners. The filly picked up in impressive style as she swept past to beat Soraaya by three-quarters of a length, leaving Hughes with enough time to be pulling up before passing the post.
Hughes always gives the impression that what would bother him would turn over a battleship, but even by his standards, this was a cool ride. Memory had been slowly away in both her starts, at Goodwood and Royal Ascot, but she did not lose any ground this time and Hughes even had to restrain her because the whole field were slowly away.
She was at the back of the pack as Frankie Dettori began to increase the tempo up on Tanfeer with four furlongs to run. Hughes, having found cover for Memory behind other horses, looked to be in trouble in the final quarter-mile as Hooray got a run up the inside rail and Soraaya battled alongside her.
But Hughes knew what he had ready to unleash and Memory produced a display of power that will linger long in the consciousness. “She was really good and the nice thing was that she was off the bit halfway down, when the others were travelling really well,” the jockey said. “That was really good and the nice thing about it was that she was off the bit halfway down when the others were travelling really well. It’s a really good sign because if she comes good, then it is a proper race.
“I was happy to get cover and a little gap came but I am so afraid of getting bans these days - nine times out of 10 I would have gone in there - but I just had to sit it out and go round."
Memory is already one of the market leaders for next season’s 1000 Guineas and both Hughes and Hannon have no doubts ability of the filly’s talents being stretched another two furlongs next May.
“She’s very good, there is no doubt about that," Hughes said. "She stays and she is behaving better now - she jumped out and didn’t do any of her antics, which is great.”
A 27% strike-rate is compelling testimony to the great season that Hannon is having with his juveniles but the trainer is convinced that Memory will be a filly who will develop into true Classic material next year. “Any nervous moments?” Hannon said with a wicked smile. “There was a woman who called the ambulance for me.
"He [Hughes] knows this filly better than anybody and he knows what he’s doing. She’s obviously our best by a long way. The other fillies I’ve trained never had gears like she has. She can do anything in a race like she’s done today. She’s seen enough trouble but, when she gets out, she goes. She’s just different.”
With the need for medical resuscitation deferred Hannon was already considering Memory’s racing programme for this, and next, season.“I think we’ll be talking about the Moyglare and that’ll be it. And next year the Guineas. She’ll get a mile stood on her head.”
The other two-year-old race on the card was won by Native Khan, a newcomer, who pulled three-and-a-quarter lengths clear of his field. Ed Dunlop has no major plans for colt but could take him to York next month for the Group Three Acomb Stakes.
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