|
|
|
The Olly Stevens-trained
Lightning Thunder got the better of Justice Day and 2/1 favourite Expert in a
thrilling finish to the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Conditions Stakes at
Doncaster this afternoon.
The Harry Bentley-ridden
filly settled nicely behind the leading pack and was the first to make her
move a furlong-and-a-half from home but looked to be beaten when both Justice
Day and Expert passed her in the final furlong. However, the two-year-old
fought back tenaciously to get her nose in front on the line and win by a
short-head from Justice Day, with the Richard Hughes-ridden Expert a further
head back in third.
"I thought that,
when I looked across on the line, that I might just have got there but I knew
that it was going to be tight," said Bentley.
"She has obviously
had a hard enough race there but she stuck her head out and she has done the
job well. Perhaps I did get there a bit soon but I never wanted it to turn
into too much of a sprint - she is a very long-striding filly and she
wouldn't have the biggest turn of foot, she just gallops. We have always
thought that she was very nice and the people who ride her at home have done
a very good job. Hopefully, she is as nice as we think. I think that the
ground is definitely on the easy side of good and it will be soft by the end
of the afternoon."
Kevin Darley,
representing the joint-owners Pearl Bloodstock, was also pleased with the
performance of Lightning Thunder.
"She's done it
nicely. It's not easy for a once-raced filly to take in a race like this
against more experienced horses but she's run on really well and just managed
to get her head in front on the line. She's showed she can battle which is a
nice quality to have. She's travelled nicely but it was a bit of a messy race
and Harry (Bentley) was the first to show his hand so things didn't pan out
her way. She's a progressive filly though and we'll have to go back and see
what's left for her. Where she heads next will be up to the boss but she's
certainly done nothing wrong."
Darley's sentiments were
echoed by Hetta Stevens, wife of trainer Olly who is currently over in
America at the Keeneland sales.
"We're very happy
with her and she's clearly going the right way," said Stevens.
"We're having a great season and to have a winner at Royal Ascot and
here at the Leger meeting is a credit to all the staff back at home. She may
have another run this season but we'll look at all the big races for her next
season. There's a lot to look forward to. We've got about 15 horses for Qatar
and Pearl Bloodstock at home and hopefully we can get a few more if we keep
having winners like this.
SECOND RACE, 2.30pm: THE
IRISH STALLION FARMS E.B.F. CONDITIONS RACE
Quotes
ELSWORTH
FRUSTRATED
Justice Day, who was
fifth in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack at York on August 24 came
home a short-head second to Lightning Thunder in the second contest on the
opening day of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF
Conditions Race.
Well regarded by his
trainer, David Elsworth, the two-year-old Acclamation colt has shown some
form in Pattern races without troubling the judge as well as losing his
maiden tag first time out and recording a second victory in a Newmarket
novice race in May
Elsworth commented after
the race: "It is frustrating but it is a horse race and a scramble and
we got beat but I could do with a winner!
"I would have liked
a bit more pace - I said to Ryan (Moore, jockey) he's a lovely little horse
but he dosses. He would be better to get a lead and a good gallop wouldn't
hurt. You only have to win the race once so do it lateish, but they have
jumped off and gone no gallop. I don't think it has made much difference but
if we had had a bit more of a gallop we would have gone once. In the end,
when he got competing, he was strong and another stride and he would have
won.
"If you look at his
form - he ran in the Windsor Castle (Listed, Royal Ascot) and was beaten
three lengths and in the Gimcrack he just flattened out and was beaten three
lengths again but it is a Group Two. He has rock solid form and I was sure we
would beat Hannon's horse (third placed, Expert) but the filly that beat us
is highly regarded and maybe she is a Guineas winner and we were giving her
seven pounds.
"I have got him in the Middle Park, which realistically
looks a big ask but having said that he's done well here and never runs a bad
race so we will see - he is rated 105."
SECOND
RACE RESULT
2.30pm
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Conditions Stakes
£20,000
total prize fund. For 2yo, which have not won a Class 1 race and which are
EBF eligible, 6f. Weights: colts and geldings 8st 11lb; fillies 8st 6lb.
Penalties: each Class 4 race won 2lb; for each Class 3 race won 4lb; for each
Class 2 race won 6lb. Penalty value 1st £12,450.00 2nd £3,728.00 3rd
£1,864.00 4th £932.00 5th £466.00.
1)
LIGHTNING THUNDER (Mohd Al Kubasi & Pearl Bloodstock Ltd) Olly Stevens
2-8-08 Harry Bentley [4] 5/2
2)
JUSTICE DAY (IRE) (Robert Ng) David Elsworth 2-9-01 Ryan Moore [1] 9/4
3)
EXPERT (IRE) (Julie Wood) Richard Hannon 2-8-13 Richard Hughes [2] 2/1f
4)
SCRUFFY TRAMP (IRE) (D Hassan & B Green) Michael Wigham 2-8-11 Sean Levey
[3] 20/1
5) FREE
CODE (IRE) (Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum) James Tate b2-8-13 Paul
Mulrennan [5] 8/1
5 ran
Time:
1m 15.34s
Distances:
sh, hd, 3¾, hd,
Breeder:
S Douch
Breeding:
Dutch Art - Sweet Coincidence (Mujahid (USA))
Tote
Win £3.90 Place £2.10
£1.50 Exacta £9.30
Winning
trainer:- Name: Stevens, Olly Based: Robins Farm, Chiddingfold, Surrey Background:
Grew up in Newmarket. Spells working for James Fanshawe, Jessica
Harrington, Bob Hess and Ed Peate, before spending five years in America with
Kellyn Gorder where he was involved with the development of Kentucky Derby
winner Super Saver and Breeders' Cup Classic hero Drosselmeyer. Took out his
own license in January 2013 and trains primarily for Qatar Racing Ltd. First
Winner: Hard Walnut - Lingfield, February 3, 2013 Royal Ascot
Wins (1): Windsor Castle Stakes (2013 Extortionist) Wins This Year: 15
Winning
jockey:-Name: Bentley, Harry Background: Started riding at the age of
four. Took out an apprentice licence at the age of 16. Has enjoyed successful
spells in Dubai with Ali Al Raihe. Started association with Olly Stevens at
Robins Farm in 2013 and is the second jockey to Qatar Racing Ltd. First
Winner: Prince Valentine - Lingfield, January 20, 2010. Wins
(2010-2012): 13; 47; 31 Wins This Year: 27
|
No comments:
Post a Comment