Tactician up for the Ebor Handicap, as Joseph O’Brien opted for the gelding’s ride
The 4-year-old bay gelding, Tactician, is gearing up to flex his muscles in the Ebor Handicap Heritage, Europe’s richest Handicap to be held at York on 20 August, 2011. The race is run over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs, a class 2 for 3-year-olds and
above on 13 August, 2011.
Owned by the Queen, Tactician is a general 10 to 1 shot to win the race, and trainer Michael Bell has sent for the Classic winning jockey, Joseph O’Brien, to ride his bay gelding in the Ebor Handicap.
The son of Motivator, out of Tempting Prospect by Shirley Heights, Tactician is coming off a great win in a listed race that was also held at York.
In the massively crowded field of 18 horses, Tactician battled it out to be the victor, and won his first race in a little longer than a year.
His last win came at Newbury on 17 April, 2010, when he broke his maiden over at a distance of 1 mile and 3 furlongs. The Queen owned gelding defeated All Action by a length to win the race and introduced himself to the UK racing circuit.
Since then Tactician has contested in five races, out of which he finished thrice on the money, with no wins and all runners up finishes.
On 9 July, 2011 at York, Tactician participated in the John Smith’s Silver Cup Handicap, over at a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs.
He was sent at 17 to 2 odds, under jockey Eddie Ahern, who was riding the gelding for the first time and guided Tactician to a long overdue win for owner and trainer.
The pair took keen hold early and made it all, maintained a steady pace and fended challenges right left and centre while running between the mid pack.
With a furlong to go Eddie Ahern, driven over Tactician and the he responded in fine fashion, as he kept on gamely inside final furlong. The pair defeated Fox Hunt by a comfortable margin of 1 ¼ lengths t win the John Smith’s Silver Cup.
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