Tag Archive for: Glittering Legend

Glittering Legend floors Bowmark in Burradon Stakes

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Glittering Legend emulated his half-brother Megallan by winning the BetMGM Burradon Stakes at Newcastle.

Only five went to post for the Listed race over a mile, but all brought winning form into it. James Fanshawe’s Glittering Legend (9-2) looked the most exposed of them all, however, having had five runs. But he put that experience to very good use.

With Irish raider Michael Scofield setting the pace, Daniel Muscutt was content to get a nice lead on Glittering Legend, with Kieran Shoemark dropping John and Thady Gosden’s once-raced 6-4 favourite Bowmark at the rear.

As the pace quickened there were two going noticeably better than the rest, but as Shoemark made his challenge down the middle of the track, Muscutt got a great split near the rail before hitting the front with half a furlong to run.

Bowmark, who hung a little to his left, stuck to his task but went down by a neck.

Fanshawe said: “I wouldn’t have run him as early as we did as he still hasn’t come in his coat yet, but sometimes geldings are a little bit like that.

“He’s really tough, he’s by Too Darn Hot who is doing incredibly well and he’s a half-brother to a good horse (Megallan). We always liked him, he’s hardy and keeps improving.

“I’m not sure what the plan will be now because in a race like today’s you never quite know what you’re taking on. We’ll go back and have a look at it.

“Unfortunately geldings can’t get into a lot of Royal Ascot races and it depends when we step him up to a mile and a quarter.”

Shoemark said of Bowmark: “I am thrilled with him. He has only won a novice before this. He has a bright future.”

Co-trainer Thady Gosden said: “The winner is a nice horse, he showed good form and won well at the back-end of March, so that was a good run from Bowmark.”

Asked if the Dante at York could be a possibility, Gosden added: “There is stamina on the dam side. Bowmark is by Kingman and, as you saw there, he has a real turn of foot. They didn’t look like they went an overly quick gallop early on and he picked up readily to hit the front. The Dante is definitely an option.”

Fanshawe and Muscutt doubled up in the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap with Wonder Legend running out the most impressive winner of the day.

Dropped out by Muscutt as Oisin Murphy set a strong pace on Plage De Havre, he gradually moved into contention.

It was all change up front suggesting the pace was too hot as Wonder Legend (4-1) kicked clear to win by four and a half lengths from Tribal Star.

The winner was cut to 6-1 from 12s by Coral for the Chester Cup.

Muscutt said: “They’ve done a good job with this horse at home because he was going the wrong way but they’ve tinkered with his regime and it’s transformed him.

“His confidence has gone up racing through the winter on the all-weather. He’s bred to be a good horse and as a young three-year-old he looked like being good.

“He’s a really comfortable ride over these extended trips and he has a change of gear.”

Zoum Zoum does just that in Doncaster victory

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Ralph Beckett’s Zoum Zoum struck on his handicap debut at Doncaster after a season spent in Listed and Group company.

The chestnut, who was unbeaten as a two-year-old, finished second in the Greenham on his debut this year and has collected minor place money in the Surrey Stakes, the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and the City Plate at Chester.

Most recently he was a good third in the Listed Prix Matchem at Saint-Cloud and on Town Moor he lined up for the William Hill More Top Prices Handicap as a 4-1 shot under Rob Hornby.

Over the six-furlong trip he stayed on best of all to hold off a challenge from John Ryan’s The X O and prevail by half a length.

“He’s a lovely horse, he had a great two-year-old campaign and was unbeaten,” said Hornby.

“He’s not done a lot wrong all year and a step back to six (furlongs) was always going to suit him in the conditions.

“I was pretty keen to press on early and keep it sustained because he was always going to see out the six well. He’s a really fun, pleasant horse and he’s great for the owners.

“He’s always been a really nice horse and we came out this year thinking he could be anything and he’s not done a lot wrong.”

Janey Mackers showed significant promise when powering to victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

This race has produced some smart fillies in the past, most recently acting as a first port of call for John and Thady Gosden’s subsequent Oaks winner Soul Sister in 2022.

The same stable had an entry with an eyecatching pedigree this time in Queen Of Thieves, a full-sister to Cracksman who was making her debut, but it was David Menuisier’s Janey Mackers at the head of the market.

Third on the first run of her career at Yarmouth earlier in the month, the two-year-old daughter of New Bay was ridden by Oisin Murphy again and started as the 7-4 favourite.

On soft ground she always looked a threat over the one-mile trip and as the race reached the final two furlongs she was clearly not for catching as she pulled away to a five-and-a-half-length success.

“She worked really well before her first run, she ran pleasingly at Yarmouth and today she stepped forward,” said Murphy.

“We went a nice even pace, we didn’t waste any energy.

“The trainer is having a great year so it’s nice to partner the likes of her now, she’s one to look forward to.”

Glittering Legend came out on top with a tough victory in the William Hill Offers Proper Prices Nursery Handicap.

The well-bred two-year-old did not take to the track at Epsom last time, but has a prior win at Goodwood to his name after a gelding operation seemed to serve him well on his second career start.

At 13-8 under Harry Davies the James Fanshawe-trained bay was always handy in a small field and held off the Gosden-trained Attack to prevail by a neck.

“He went to Epsom the last day and didn’t handle the track, back on a more conventional track he has gone and franked his Goodwood win,” said Tom Fanshawe, assistant to his father.

“It’s worked out very well and looking at the family, they tend to get better with age.

“He is still quite immature, he’s been growing up the whole time. On his debut here he was a real handful so we gelded him after that and he’s learning with each run.

“It’s quite exciting when they’re still immature, he’s won off a mark of 90 today and he’s still immature so the future looks quite bright for him.”

Charlie Appleby’s Music Of Time made an impression when landing the Join Century Racing Club Today EBF Maiden Stakes.

The Dubawi colt was third on the all-weather on Kempton on his debut earlier in the month and was backed to take a step forward from that effort when facing a turf surface for the first time.

Under William Buick he was the 15-8 favourite and his key rival looked to be the Gosden-trained debutant Kaleido, a full-brother to the Clarehaven star Mishriff.

Their rivalry in the market was replicated on the track and after making all of the running it was Music Of Time who came out on top as Kaleido was beaten a length and a quarter in an effort full of future promise.