20 September 2018

New Found Glory

Last year's highest-priced purchase at Goffs Orby Yearling Sale put the first £9000 back into the kitty after winning on his debut outing at Naas last night. With a name that belies his age, Old Glory, a Frankel colt bought for £1.4 million, trained by Aidan O’Brien, claimed the

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden by one-amd-a-half lengths. Ridden by the trainer's son, Donnacha, Old Glory travelled well and challenged the leader, Erich Bloch, as they approached the final furlong. It took the two-year-old a while to take over the lead but he got ahead in the last 150 yards and stayed there.

Great Shakes!

This Shamardal filly has suffered the humiliation of being beaten twice when the favourite since her victorious return at Newmarket in April. The Roger Varian-trained Sheikha Reika finally put an end to a frustrating campaign when she lined up in the nine-strong EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies' Stakes at Yarmouth yesterday. The Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum-owned three-year-old clearly had no problems with the step up to a mile and a quarter and defeated her stable companion, Rasima, by four and a half lengths.

Wadi you know!

Another Frankel colt took his record to three wins from five outings after scoring in the Smarkets Fortune Stakes at Sandown. The Owen Burrows-trained Wadilsafa, ridden by former champion, Jim Crowley, initially seemed in danger of losing the race when Silvestre de Sousa surged ahead aboard Simon Crisford's Archetype but ultimately it was Wadilsafa's turn in the winner's enclosure after dealing with all challenges in fine style and coming home a length and three-quarters in front of Hathal, the runner-up.