Wigmore Hall wins John Smith's Cup at York
Wigmore Hall gave apprentice jockey Martin Lane the biggest win of his career when they won the 51st John Smith’s Cup at York.
The horse, trained by Michael Bell, was one of the market leaders so it was not the time for a young jockey to have a sudden loss of nerve now, and Lane had the nerve to take a pull at the start that allowed him to pick a run on the rails.
Lane was going the shortest route, now he just had to pick a route through the other 18 runners. He had gambled that the field would race up the centre of the track in the home straight and he was right. Wigmore Hall (pictured right) was still five lengths off the front but making up the deficit as he hit the furlong marker.
There Lane came up against Kings Gambit and Jamie Spencer. He did so several times in fact as the two battled out the finish which Wigmore Hall won by a short-head. There was a smile that broke across Lane’s face as the result of the photo-finish and he revelled in his biggest winner “by a long way".
“It mean a lot to me – I’ve worked a long time for this,” he said. “And for this to be my biggest winner for Mr Bell is great. When I saw they were coming up the middle of the track for the last race I said I’d take my time and come up the rails. And I got a great run throughout the race. His only quirk is that he just doesn’t like small fields – a big field like this he’s a different class of a horse. He’s a smashing horse and really, really tried for me.”
Lane’s celebrations were quickly muted when a stewards’ inquiry was announced but, after an agonising delay while the officials reviewed the replays and spoke to the jockeys, the placings were allowed to stand.
Ryan Moore, who is playing catch-up with Paul Hanagan in this season’s jockeys' title, claimed a double in his rival’s backyard which was headed by Free Agent’s victory in the Listed John Smith's Silver Cup, as he caught the well-backed favourite Drunken Sailor to win by a length-and-a-half. Free Agent, who runs in the colours of the Queen, won the Chesham Stakes as a juvenile two years ago and had been considered a Derby contender.
He had not won in six subsequent runs and had had his share of problems but, as with so many, of the in-form Richard Hannon yard, he just would not be denied.
With 13 winners already for the month, Mark Johnston’s yard is in unstoppable form and his horses are just like that when they get going. Capponi was market leader for the John Smith’s Racing Handicap and backers were ready to collect almost as soon as he hit the front for Greg Fairley with two furlongs to run. He came two-and-a-quarter lengths clear of Magaling and Fairley said: “Typical one of ours – just keeps on going. First time I’ve sat on him – never even ridden him at home – but he gives you a nice enough feel any way. He just keeps on galloping; he’s picked up nicely. And we’re flying – good day yesterday down at Newmarket and a winner at Chepstow last night.”
Hotham nearly did not make it for the opening race on the card when he showed a distinct reluctance to enter the stalls. But he was far more generous with his efforts for jockey Barry McHugh once the stalls opened as he battled on gamely to beat Discanti by a short-head. “I’ve got him into loads of trouble, which has suited me,” McHugh said. “They went quick early and I thought I’ll just sit and suffer and hopefully get a few gaps. And they came and he’s done it well. ”
Hotham may have performed well but it was a rare win beyond the minimum distance, having won just once at six furlongs in 28 previous attempts. “It seems that way but he’s a funny horse,” McHugh said. “But he’s got away with it today.”
http://www.senore.com/Premio-Loco-shines-in-Summer-Mile-a15861
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