Ascot 1.50 – 7F Maiden Fillies Stakes (Class 4) Good to Soft
Runners: Nine fillies declared, seven debutantes.
Favourite: DAWN OF HOPE 11/10 (from 7/4)
All of the runners came over to race on the far side.
1st – MARENKO (Richard Hannon) Last of nine at Newmarket on debut. Comfortable winner today after making all. Cheveley Park bred, she is from a mare who won a maiden at 7F. One previous foal won a 6F maiden.
2nd – LIGHT UP OUR WORLD (Richard Hannon) Debutante. Owner bred from a mare who remained a maiden after four runs (half sister to a Group 1 winner at 8F). She has produced winning foals between 6F and 13F (highest winning OR of 83).
3rd – DAWN OF HOPE (Roger Varian) Debutante. Cost 220000 euros as a yearling and is from a mare who won a maiden at 10F and was placed in a Listed race at 12F. She has produced winning foals between 6F and 12F, including a Listed race at 12F.
Distances: 3¾ lengths, neck.
David Probert, the rider of CALLIOPE, unplaced, reported that the filly was slowly away and commenced to buck shortly after the start.
Richard Hannon: ‘I don’t know what happened at Newmarket as she missed the gate and, for whatever reason, she just didn’t do it. But today she hit the gate and didn’t look like getting beaten. She has a lot of class. We’ll be looking for black type now and something like the Prix du Calvados could be for her.’
Ascot 2.20 – 6F Maiden Stakes (Class 2) Good to Soft
Runners: Eight colts declared, all debutantes.
Non Runner: SPANISH CITY (withdrawn).
Favourite: FAWAAREQ 15/8 (from 6/4).
Market Movers: JUSTICE LAW (6/1 to 4/1)
1st – WALL OF FIRE (Richard Hannon) Made most and pushed out to win. Purchased for 92000 guineas as a foal and was then resold as a yearling for 270000 guineas. He is the first foal from a mare who remained a maiden after two runs (her dam won a 6F Group 2 race).
2nd – JUSTICE LAW (David Elsworth) Purchased for £28000 as a yearling and was then resold at a Breeze Up sale for £100000. His dam won at 8F (highest winning OR of 56). She has produce a full brother who remains a maiden after four runs.
3rd – SHORT WORK (Ralph Beckett) Purchased for 21000 guineas as a foal and was then resold as a yearling for 26000 guineas. His dam won a 10F maiden and has produced many winning foals between 5F and 11F, including a Listed race at 8F.
4th – FAWAAREQ (Barry Hills) Shadwell bred, he is the first foal from an unraced mare half sister to Group 1 winner at 8F, twice).
Distances: ¾ length, one length, ¾ length
Richard Hannon: ‘He is a nice horse but we will look after him this year. To his credit, he is a tough horse to do that first time out in conditions like that on his first time of asking He has a lovely attitude but he was a bit lazy in front. When he gave him a couple of belts that did him good.’
Thirsk 2.30 – 5F Maiden Stakes (Class 5) Good to Firm
Runners: Thirteen runners declared including two fillies and three newcomers. COMEDY NIGHT was wearing cheekpieces for the first time and also had the highest OR of 80. HAUGHMOND was visored for the first time.
Non Runners: SHAKA ZULU (girth gall) and DREAMING OF RIO (going).
Joint Favourites: AHDAF and ZEBEDEE’S GIRL 7/2.
Market Movers: MEN UNITED (15/2 to 11/2) and BLACK GRASS (25/1 to 16/1).
1st – EL ASTRONAUTE OR 75 (John Quinn) Made most and held on well. Had previously run four times, all at 5F. Most recently finished runner up in a nursery at Chester.
2nd – COMEDY NIGHT OR 80 (Robert Cowell) Ran next to the near side rail and was close to the leader throughout. Four runs previously, most recently fourth at Lingfield when it was reported that the colt was unbalanced in the early stages. Had previously finished runner up at Catterick, beaten a neck and conceding 5lbs to a horse who subsequently earned an OR of 96.
3rd – AHDAF (Mark Johnston) Kept on well towards the finish. Had been off since May (reported a non runner in June, lame). On his second, and most recent appearance, he had finished third, beaten just over four lengths by a horse given an OR of 77. Purchased for 20000 guineas as a yearling, he was then resold at a Breeze Up sale for £52000. His dam raced in France and remained a maiden. She has produced one winning foal, at 5F and 6F, including two Group 2 wins at 6F.
Distances: ½ length, nose
MEN UNITED finished in seventh place and BLACK GRASS was tenth.
John Quinn: ‘EL ASTRONAUTE was very professional. He ran well at Chester the other day and he is a good, solid horse. He is all speed.’
James Given: ‘MEN UNITED was taking on two proven 2yos and they went hard. I was very happy with him and he will be a different horse next time.’
Thirsk 3.05 – 6F Nursery (Class 3) Good to Firm
Runners: Nine runners declared including four previous winners. DARK DEFENDER (OR 86) carried top weight.
Non Runners: KUMANAVSUMFUN (not eaten up) and FIRESNAKE (going).
Favourite: DARK DEFENDER 9/4.
Market Movers: BABY BALLERINA (13/2 to 5/1)
1st – DUTCH MIST (Kevin Ryan) Came from last to first, challenging down the centre of the track and ridden out to win. Completed the hat trick following a maiden win over course and distance and a Class 4 nursery at Catterick.
2nd – BABY BALLERINA (Brian Ellison) Didn’t get a clear run through and when in the clear, drifted left but didn’t have the pace of the winner. Has now been placed on her last three races, having finished third on her last two appearances, most recently at Catterick.
Distances: One length; 2¼ lengths
DARK DEFENDER finished in fifth place
The Stewards considered the running of FISHERGATE, ridden by Tony Hamilton and trained by Richard Fahey, which finished last of seven, beaten 12½ lengths. They noted that the trainer’s representative could offer no explanation for the colt’s performance. The Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination of the colt during routine testing failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Kevin Ryan: ‘DUTCH MIST is a very laid-back filly, she is progressive and she is a lovely filly. I was a bit nervous the ground would be too quick, but it is beautiful ground, fair dos to the track.’
Thirsk 3.40 – 7F Maiden Fillies Stakes (Class 4) Good to Firm
Runners: Eight fillies declared, one debutante
Non Runners: THE EXCEL QUEEN (coughing)
Favourite: SPENNITHORNE 8/11 (from Evens)
1st – GOLD MERLION (Mark Johnston) Debutante. Tracked the leader and although running green having taken the lead, kept on well. Purchased as a foal for 1800 euros, she was then resold as a yearling for 15000 euros. Her dam was unraced but she has produced winners between 12F and 18F (and over hurdles) including a Listed race at 16F.
2nd – RIBBING (David Simcock) Finished well from quite a long way back. She had previously been well supported at Kempton when finishing fourth; the runner up won a Class 4 maiden next time out. Purchased as a yearling for 47000 dollars, she was then resold at a Breeze Up sale for 85000 guineas. Her dam won a maiden at 8F and later won in USA. She was also placed in a Group 3 in Germany over 8F. She has produced one winning foal at 6F in USA.
3rd – SPENNITHORNE (Charlie Appleby) Led until the final furlong. Ridden two furlongs out and had no extra in the final furlong. She had previously finished third at Newbury in a Class 4 maiden over 6F.
Distances: Neck, 1¾ lengths
Phillip Makin, the rider of CALEDONIAN GOLD, placed fourth, reported that the filly ran too free.
Two Year Old Racing 2015 