24 September 2018

Rogue Win

This Intello colt more than made made up for for his disappointing seventh in the Investec Derby in June at Newbury. The William Haggas-trained Young Rascal restored his connections' faith when claiming the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes. Ridden by Jim Crowley, the three-year-old raced prominently and travelled well, but, at the furlong pole, it looked like the best he would get would be third. He was urged to make one final effort, however, and beat Mirage Dancer by a short head and thus claimed his second Group Three contest of the season,

The Heat of the Day

As if the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup isn't exciting enough in its own right, it always seems to need that bit extra publicity. Last year was bad news as it was unfortunately abandoned due to the waterlogged track. This year the prestigious £200,000 event was declared a dead heat, the first such result since the race's inauguration in 1804. The prize was shared between the 5/1 favourite, Son of Rest, trained by County Tipperary-based Fozzy Stack and ridden by Chris Hayes and the 28/1 outsider, Baron Bolt, trained in Berkshire by Paul Cole and ridden by 20-year-old Preston-born apprentice Cameron Noble. It took the judges seven nerve-wracking minutes to reach the decision.

Signs of the Kodiac

This Kodiac colt, winner of the Sirenia Stakes at Kempton in September, was the undoubted victor of the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury. Two furlongs out, though, it didn't look as though the John Gosden-trained Kessaar was going to make it, as Karl Burke's True Mason took over the lead. There were only a few anxious moments, however, as two-hundred yards from home, Kessaar was back in command and pulled two-and-three-quarter lengths clear of his only serious rival.