Sunday 14 June
Doncaster 3.40 – 7F fillies maiden (Class 5) Soft
Seven fillies contested this maiden; SHARAAKAH was the non runner (going). There was one runner making her debut today.
DESSERTOFLIFE had made her debut here earlier in the month in a 6½F maiden, finishing fourth, 1¾ lengths behind the winner. Mark Johnston’s filly was sent off the 13/8 favourite, having opened up on course at 9/4.
The early pace was dictated by the favourite and SHE’S ALL MINE. When they reached the two furlong pole, DESSERTOFLIFE was pushed clear and kept on to win by 4½ lengths. She was purchased for 18000 euros as a foal and later resold for 42000 guineas as a yearling. Her dam was a winner in Italy, including a Listed race at 8F, and she has previously produced one winning foal, also over 8F in Italy.
SHE’S ALL MINE plugged on for second place and finished a further 1¼ lengths ahead of the third horse. Richard Hannon’s filly had previously finished fifth on her debut at Kempton. She is the first foal from a mare who won a 10F maiden in Italy.
The Stewards noted that BURNING LOVE, jumped right leaving the stalls hampering MISS PIMPERNEL but after viewing a recording of the race they were satisfied that it did not involve a riding offence. Nicky Mackay, the rider of PURSUITOFTHESTARS, reported that the filly jumped very awkwardly from the stalls and lost ground.
Salisbury 4.35 – 6F maiden (Class 3) Good to Firm
A field of ten for this Class 3 maiden, the non runner was TRIKINGDOM (going). There was one filly in the field and seven of the runners had raced previously.
Richard Hannon’s GUTAIFAN was sent off the 4/7 favourite, having previously finished second at Goodwood. The market was spot on with the result as the first three home were also the first three in the betting.
Two furlongs out GUTAIFAN, HUSBANDRY and OPERATIVE were in a line and drawing clear of the rest of the field. OPERATIVE was the first to crack inside the final furlong but the market leaders had a ding dong battle up to the line with GUTAIFAN prevailing by a short head.
HUSBANDRY (Andrew Balding) had finished third on debut at Chepstow; the winner is due to run in the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) at Royal Ascot and the fourth won a Class 5 maiden next time out. Owned and bred by The Queen, he is the first foal from a mare who won between 7F and 8F (highest winning OR of 80).
OPERATIVE ran on strongly to grab second place on debut here over 5F and in finishing third today, he was 4½ lengths clear of the fourth.
News Update
Earlier in the week, I featured an interview with Mark Johnston by Radio Yorkshire. The full video interview (14 minutes long) has now been published and it includes more in depth comments about BURATINO, DELIZIA and RAH RAH.
Two Year Old Racing 2015 