Tag Archive for: Hackwood Stakes

Rage Of Bamby is 33-1 winner of Hackwood Stakes

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Rage Of Bamby produced a 33-1 shock in the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

The winner of a Listed affair at Newmarket in October, Eve Johnson Houghton’s charge was well adrift of her best in her first two starts of this season, but was back to something like when not beaten far when sixth in a Group Three at York last weekend.

Despite that she looked to have it to do in a strong renewal at the same level, but was in the firing line from the off as she raced slightly away from the others on the near side of the pack, and while Regional and the gambled-on King’s Gamble looked like they would battle it out, Charlie Bishop had lots of horse underneath him and swept past to score by a length and three-quarters over King’s Gamble.

Johnson Houghton said: “We always had faith she would win a Group race, but that faith has been tested somewhat this year.

“She ran really well at York last time when possibly I had left her a bit short. I know it was a bit quick to run her back and it looked a Group One in all but name – I wasn’t expecting her to win, (but) I did think she would run a big race. On her day she is really good.”

For the winning syndicate Hot To Trot Racing it was a 100th winner since their formation, with members now able to dream of bigger days later in the season before the five-year-old bows out at the conclusion of the campaign.

Racing manager Sam Hoskins added: “We’ve been going since 2012 and it’s our 100th winner so to do it in a Group Three is really, really special. We have 80 members in the syndicate and it is just brilliant.

“Eve has always thought so much of her and it was quite a big decision for us to enter her in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“But when she finished out the back of the television at York in the (1895) Duke of York (Stakes) it was really disappointing and she ran the same at Haydock the next time and she was almost borderline retirement. Because we lease the filly, it was a big decision for the breeder to keep her in training this year and we were feeling rather low.

“She has nothing to lose now as she will go off to stud at the end of the year, so she could maybe head to Haydock for the Sprint Cup or something, we’ve got to have a go.

“We’ll enjoy today first and we’re over the moon, it shows you have to always have a go, but I don’t think we saw this coming.”

Bethell hoping Regional outlook is favourable in Hackwood Stakes

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Ed Bethell’s dependable stable star Regional will bid to be the toast of the yard in the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

The seven-year-old has hardly run a bad race across the last three seasons, and has a Group One win in the Haydock Sprint Cup to his name alongside multiple placings in the upper echelons of the division.

This year he has appeared to be as good as ever, going down by less than a length when third in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in April and then coming home third again in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He’s grand, he’s in really good nick,” said Bethell.

“We’re really looking forward to it, I just hope the rain doesn’t materialise.

“I’ve been very pleased with him since Ascot, he worked really well on Tuesday.

“Hopefully he goes there with a big chance, but it’s not an easy Group race at all and there are some good horses in there.

“He’s ultra consistent for a sprinter, he always turns up and he’s a legend for us.

“I’m very fortunate to be able to train a horse like him so early on in my career, it’s an absolute pleasure.”

Karl Burke’s Elite Status won the contest last term as Regional finished fourth, and the trainer is hoping cheekpieces can bring about a return to the same level of form.

He said: “We’re hoping for a big run, we put the sheepskins on him a couple of weeks ago and he worked very well in them – he seems in good form.

“He has been a little bit disappointing so we’ve lowered our sights a little bit to try to get him going again.

“The ground was a bit against him at York and he probably got tired, but Ascot was a little bit a non-event for him really.

“I wouldn’t want too much rain for him, as long as it’s good ground that’ll be fine.”

Saffie Osborne takes the ride on the Chipchase Stakes winner Diligent Harry, who carries a penalty for that Group Three triumph and is aiming for a first success on turf.

“It’s a really good race and he’s obviously got to carry the penalty,” Osborne told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s been absolutely flying at home, he feels great and we’re slightly on weather watch – hopefully there’s not too much rain.

“He’s a seriously classy horse and he’s shown what he can do at Group One level with some really good runs in defeat. Hopefully he can go on to bigger and better things this year.”

As Diligent Harry won the Chipchase, James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue could only come home in ninth place, another below-par effort after his luckless run in the Prix du Gros-Chene.

On the latter occasion he had a run-in with the stalls, and connections are hoping he can get back on track after finishing third in this last year and going on to strike at Group One level on Champions Day at Ascot.

Richard Brown, racing manager to owner Wathnan Racing, said: “His first start this year was a non-event, he reared as the stalls opened and missed the break by six or eight lengths.

“We then took him to Newcastle on the all-weather and we were all very disappointed and left scratching our heads.

“His work has been good since and everyone seems happy with him, hopefully getting him back on turf will see him get back to somewhere near his best.”