Waseet back to his best at York
Richard Hills is known within the industry as being one of the strongest in a finish, and that was proven in the Garbutt & Elliott Conditions Stakes as he somehow galvanized Waseet to break his duck for his three-year-old campaign at a colossal price.
The John Dunlop trained winner had been a severe disappointment this season after impressive performances as a two-year-old, which had culminated in a second place in the Royal Lodge. But the testing conditions at York today obviously played to the horse’s strength as he came late to deny King’s Gambit, who has now finished second in four of his last five starts, in the final 100 yards to win by a length.
Hills said: "He's a Selkirk so I knew he would go on the ground. He has been riddled with problems for the whole of his career and John [Dunlop] said to me that he probably had him the best he has had him all year and he was proved right."
Alan Shearer was celebrating in the Acorn Web Offset Handicap as Justonefortheroad, for who the former England captain is part of the syndicate with, sprung from the pack under a powerful late drive from Saleem Golan. The Richard Fahey trained colt ended up being a profitable spare ride for the young jockey, as Paul Hanagan decided to take the mount upon Prime Exhibit who never had the speed to live up to the early pace. Golan had Justonefortheroad handily placed just off the pace, and the horse showed a game enthusiasm to nail joint-favourite Eton Rifles on the line.
Earlier in the day the photo finish technology was in action in the TSG Nursery, as Indian Ballad got the better of Breezolini in a desperate lunge to the line. The field went off at a furious gallop, led by Lady Paris, as Graham Gibbons held Indian Ballad just off the pace and brought his horse through in the final two furlongs. The wet conditions and fast pace seemed to take its toll on all the main challengers which resulted in most of the field running on empty as they crossed the line, but Gibbons’ mount battled on gamely in the final strides to land the spoils. The disappointment of the race was Fahey’s Alben Star, who despite travelling best took a hefty bump from Lady Paris two furlongs out and never regained any sort of momentum. He will be reassessed by the handicapper now and will be worth a second chance if Fahey decides to run him again this term.
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