Tag Archive for: Nottingham

Poniros signals winning start to Beckett and Amo reunion

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Poniros could have an exciting future having rubberstamped a successful reunion between Ralph Beckett and owners Amo Racing with an impressive winning debut at Nottingham.

Horses in the purple silks of Kia Joorabchian’s racing operation were a regular sight under the Kimpton Down handler’s name previously, but trainer and owner split midway through the 2021 season with the horses dispersed to other stables.

Beckett remained absent from Amo Racing’s roster of trainers for the 2022 season, but saddling his first runner in over two years for the owners, he enjoyed a winning return to the ranks with the promising son of Golden Horn, who justified 7-4 favouritism in the Bet With The World On Saturday EBF Maiden Stakes.

Immediately sent forward by Hector Crouch, he displayed a professional attitude in testing conditions at Colwick Park and made all for a taking length-and-three-quarters victory over Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Salamanca.

“He’s a nice colt and has showed up well at home,” said Beckett.

“That will probably be him finished for the year, he is still quite a weak individual, but he is a horse we like and one for the future we think.

“He’s been very straightforward since he arrived with us – he went there knowing his job because he has been so straightforward.

“First-time winners are always nice.”

Prince Alex’s five-race winning-run and Meu Amor’s Listed Eternal Stakes success were the highlights of Beckett’s previous time among the Amo training ranks and the in-form trainer was delighted to kick off his second spell with an exciting winner for the owners.

Poniros after winning well on debut
Poniros after winning well on debut (PA)

“I enjoyed training for Kia when it was going well and hopefully this is a nice horse back with us again,” continued Beckett.

“We stayed friends throughout and it’s nice to have a nice horse for him again.”

Poniros’ jockey Hector Crouch was also impressed with the performance of the youngster, as he defied both inexperience and a notorious headwind to get on the scoresheet.

He said: “He’s a lovely horse. I didn’t want to make the running, but he jumped well and no one was there. There’s a fierce headwind so he’s done well under the circumstances to keep going and he showed a really good attitude.

“I’ve only sat on him once at home and we did a piece of work on the grass. He did everything the right way round and is likeable. He hasn’t done too much at home, he’s just a really nice type.

“He has the right attitude to stay and the pedigree as well and he’s a really likeable type.”



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Ascot ambition for Nottingham victor Maggie’s Way

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William Muir and Chris Grassick are dreaming of a trip to Royal Ascot with Maggie’s Way after watching her saunter to a bloodless victory at Nottingham on Tuesday.

Although arriving at Colwick Park a maiden, her half-length second at Kempton in October served as a good clue to her potential and she showed exactly what was lurking in the locker in the Follow @racingtv On Twitter Fillies’ Handicap.

Sent off 12-1 in the hands of James Doyle, she left the opposition trailing in her wake to record a two-length victory and connections are keen to aim the daughter of Cityscape at the Sandringham Stakes at next month’s showpiece meeting in Berkshire.

“The race at Kempton, we felt we were a bit unlucky there, she just got collared on the line. It’s often what happens there at Kempton – they just come over the top of you,” said co-trainer Chris Grassick.

“We’ve never lost faith with this filly over the winter, she has always shown us plenty and galloped well and has a great attitude.

“We came here feeling quite bullish but the price didn’t really reflect what we were all feeling, so it was nice that she was able to get the job done nicely there for us and it’s onwards and upwards.

“Maybe, if we can, we will have one more run before going to Ascot. We’re going to have a go at the Sandringham over the stiff mile.”

Ascot could also be on the agenda for Thunderbear (18-1), who provided Irish handler Jack Davison with his first UK success in the Bet At racingtv.com Handicap.

Thunderbear provides IIrish handler Jack Davison with a first UK winner
Thunderbear provides Irish handler Jack Davison with a first UK winner (PA)

“It was just the way it fell really, it suited us to bring this horse over with the other filly (Hotter Than Hades, unplaced in Nottinghamshire Oaks) and this race just happened to be on the programme,” said Davison.

“It suited him down to the ground and he doesn’t mind ease in the ground. It was quite straightforward and he’s a nice gelding for the future.

“It was my first UK winner but I plan on bringing some more over here. I’m absolutely buzzing, delighted.

“He’s a homebred so credit to my parents, he’s a pretty useful horse and there might be a nice handicap at Ascot for him, we’ll see. I would be pleased if he was a good Saturday horse, but I wouldn’t mind coming back for Royal Ascot if there is something suitable.”

There was further Irish success on the card when Johnny Murtagh’s Starnight (2-1) obliged for favourite backers in the concluding Visit racingtv.com Handicap, while in the opening EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes Amo Racing enjoyed another two-year-old triumph with the Dominic Ffrench Davis-trained Treasure Storm (11-8 favourite).

Treasure Storm takes the opening EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Nottingham
Treasure Storm takes the opening EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Nottingham (PA)

“It was a good ride from Kevin. These horses are prepared by Robson Aguiar in Ireland and when they come over here they know their job,” said Ffrench Davis.

“She just missed the break at Musselburgh first time and we think she might need another furlong, but she got the job done nicely there.

“She’s probably not one of the best, but she’s a nice filly and she got the job done today and hopefully she can progress. I don’t think she will be an Ascot filly. We have some lovely ones and she would be lower down the pecking order. But she did well today.”

Harry Eustace’s Belhaven (100-30) got back to winning ways in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap, while James Fanshawe’s Maso Bastie (7-2) survived a stewards’ inquiry to take his record to two from three in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Restricted Novice Stakes.

“Craig Witherford and the team at home have been doing a lot of work with him in the stalls,” said Fanshawe.

“He has won two out of three races he has run in but he’s quite quirky. He has an engine that we have to keep working round and when he was challenged today he battled back well.

“I think he will definitely get a mile and a half but we will see what mark he gets next week and go from there.”



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One For Bobby swoops for success in Nottingham feature

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There were famous colours in the winner’s enclosure at Nottingham after One For Bobby landed a telling blow for Hughie Morrison in the British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks.

The daughter of Frankel, who placed in Group Two company when trained by Johnny Murtagh last term, was adorned in the colours seen to great effect by Frank Dunne – the only Irish trainer to win the Japan Cup, having done so in 1983 with dual Royal Ascot scorer Stanerra.

Dunne died in December last year aged 79, but his legacy has been kept going by his surviving partner Ann Marshall and One For Bobby did the silks justice at Colwick Park.

Making her debut for Morrison, she was sent off 17-2 under a chance spare ride for Rob Hornby and thrived in the soft ground at the East Midlands track to hunt down the front-running Pink Carnation and record a one-length success.

“She has never put a foot wrong at home,” said Morrison. “She came in looking well and she has worked well and when she was 16-1 when we left home this morning I was amazed because we fancied her.

“It read like a decent race and I thought she would like the ground, that helps. We had worked out at home she likes the ground and she is in good form. She has been working with a good filly.

“It’s very competitive in Ireland and Ann Marshall who bred her thought there might be plenty of opportunities here so this is target one hit.”

Future plans for One For Bobby remain fluid, but the Summerdown Stables handler did not rule out raiding missions to France later in the year, while he also feels she is capable of stepping up in distance.

“I think she will stay further, I think she will get a mile and a half,” Morrison added.

“She’s done a lot of running on fast ground last year and I think some cut just suits.

“This was the main plan for her, but we’ll have a look and see if there are some fillies pattern races which could suit. I think we’ll give her the jabs needed for her to go to France.

One For Bobby arrives back after winning the Nottinghamshire Oaks
One For Bobby arrives back after winning the Nottinghamshire Oaks (PA)

“She carries some very famous colours of the late Frank Dunne, who sadly died last year. His partner (Ann Marshall) has carried it all on, so it’s lovely.”

Hornby said:  “I didn’t know a lot about her, I don’t think many did with her coming over from Ireland. She seems very uncomplicated and enjoyed the conditions.

“I wasn’t worried about Danny (Tudhope on Pink Carnation), Hughie was confident she would stay further and it’s quite testing ground. It was nice to have a target to aim at and she stays.”



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Gavin Cromwell sets sights on Nottingham with Sunset Shiraz

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Gavin Cromwell will saddle his first runner at Nottingham on Tuesday when Sunset Shiraz undertakes a raiding mission on the British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes.

Although the daughter of Time Test has only won once in her 11-race career, she has performed with real credit in some competitive races – placing at Group and Listed level four times at two and going close in two of her three outings last season.

She now tries 10 furlongs for only the second time following a pleasing return at the Curragh in March and her handler envisages no issues with the step up in trip.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell has never saddled a runner at Nottingham before
Trainer Gavin Cromwell has never saddled a runner at Nottingham before (David Davies/PA)

“The soft ground shouldn’t be an issue for her and although she hasn’t gone that far on this ground before, she’s a year older and hopefully she will get the trip OK,” said Cromwell.

“She should be fine over 10 furlongs. She had a nice first run back and we were happy enough. If she has come on for that, hopefully she will be thereabouts.

“She’s been placed in some very good races, we would love to win again with her but she’s really consistent. I’ve never been there (Nottingham) before but I’m looking forward to it.”

Sir Michael Stoute has won this twice in recent years with Sun Maiden (2019) and Noon Star (2022) and this time relies upon the upwardly mobile Crystal Caprice – a Frankel filly out of a Listed-winning sister to Crystal Ocean and Hillstar.

William Haggas’ Golden Lyra acquitted herself well last season before signing off with victory at Saint-Cloud in a Listed race, while Charlie Appleby’s Musidora second Life Of Dreams and Roger Varian’s Mukaddamah add further depth to the Listed contest.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Misty Dancer embarked on a three-race winning run last summer before disappointing in the Gillies Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster and is given a second chance to test her mettle at this level on her reappearance.

“Misty Dancer will like the ground at Nottingham as the rain that has come gives her every chance,” said Ed Crisford.

“Although proving versatile winning on three different types of going, she wants some cut in the ground.

“The horse has been working really well at home and is making more progress than we expected, which is promising ahead of her first run of the season.

“These Listed races are always very deep and wide-open contests but we fancy our chances to at least run into the frame.”



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Haynes to aim higher with Nottingham victor Fix You

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Alice Haynes’ Fix You could have bigger days ahead following a bloodless victory at Nottingham.

The Newmarket-based handler shot to prominence with her stewardship of Lady Hollywood last season and she seems to have found another talented sprinter in a similar mould for owners Amo Racing.

The daughter of Night Of Thunder made a winning debut on soft ground at Thirsk as a two-year-old and although not seen after finishing down the field in a French Listed contest second time, the 15-8 favourite built on her reappearance at Kempton to double her tally in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap.

Fix You will now go searching for black type while conditions remain suitable, with Navan’s Committed Stakes (April 22) and a six-furlong assignment on the all-weather at Chelmsford mooted as possible options.

“She needed her run at Kempton and I thought she would win, but the six probably just caught her out being a bit ring rusty,” said Haynes. “I thought 77 was a great mark for her and this was a great opportunity to get her in.

“It’s the ground that makes all the difference to her, she loves the soft ground and the dig in it.

“There’s a race in Ireland we could go to at the end of next week, a stakes race chasing the soft ground and trying to get a bit of black type early. She’s a nice filly, she’s exciting for the owner who is a good supporter of our team.

“We could try to look for something over five in England if the rain stays or we could go for the Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes at Chelmsford (April 27) over six. That is a Listed race and we will try to get her some black type as we think she is well capable of that.

“She’s nearly as straightforward as Lady Hollywood, they are two cracking fillies. We are always trying to find another one like her.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Derby entrant Torito continued his education by breaking his maiden in testing conditions in the Bet At racingtv.com Novice Stakes.

Sent off the 1-4 favourite following the late withdrawal of Roger Varian’s Exoplanet, the Kingman colt bettered his encouraging debut third in a Newbury maiden in the hands of Robert Havlin.

“His family have enjoyed that ground, but it is a tough first run of the season coming back and having to go through that,” said Havlin.

Torito ridden by Robert Havlin wins the Bet At racingtv.com Novice Stakes at Nottingham Racecourse
Torito ridden by Robert Havlin wins the Bet At racingtv.com Novice Stakes at Nottingham Racecourse (Joe Giddens/PA)

“He probably got left two and a half (furlongs) out, which was far enough out for him. Certainly the last half a furlong he got tired and he ran nearly a similar race last year at Newbury – came there cruising and then just paddled the last half a furlong.

“Although it looks as if he didn’t hit the line that strong there, maybe he is one who does want stepping up in trip and ride him a bit more patiently on better ground.”

Havlin was also on the scoresheet aboard Dean Ivory’s Molly Valentine in the racingtv.com Fillies’ Handicap, while Jack Channon’s Sera Dawn confirmed course form over Fair Wind to open her account in the Darley EBF Novice Stakes.

There was also a winner on the card for local handler Roy Bowring who sent out Nine Elms (7-1) to land the Watch On Racing TV Handicap, while Marco Ghiani got his new job as retained rider to owner Peter Harris off to the perfect start when guiding Eyetrap (13-2) to victory in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap.

“He couldn’t have done any better,” said Harris about Ghiani’s winning start.

“I have a great relationship with Adam Kirby, and still have, but I needed somebody to ride the fillies as well as the colts, and he won some good races as an apprentice.”

Handler Jane Chapple Hyam was also delighted to see the association get off to a victorious start and is ambitiously dreaming of a 2024 Melbourne Cup tilt with the Ulysses colt.

She said: “We knew we would get the distance, the trip was no problem. We were a little concerned about the heavy in places but he is bred to stay and maybe that is why he did it.

“I see him running in mile-and-a-half, mile-six handicaps, maybe one day next year a Melbourne Cup – the dream’s there isn’t it.”



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Rajinksy registers surprise Listed success for Harry Davies

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Harry Davies notched up the first Listed success of his career as Rajinsky pulled off a shock to down Trueshan in Nottingham’s Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes.

Winner of the Cesarewitch Trial last season in the hands of Davies, Hugo Palmer’s seven-year-old made every yard in the testing rain-softened ground at Colwick Park and showed great resilience to pull out extra when pressed by Alan King’s star stayer inside the final three furlongs – knuckling down to hold off Trueshan by half a length at the line.

Although well held in Group One company at ParisLongchamp on his final outing of 2022, his victory at odds of 16-1 now puts him in the frame for some big assignments this term.

“We thought he would be fit enough today,” said the winning jockey.

“The competition was probably the best he’s ever faced really and he’s just improving as he gets older.

“Last year we learnt an awful lot about him and it is a very exciting year ahead.

“I know the horse will always get further and will always hit the line strong – he will never let you down and he will always try hard. When Trueshan came to me, he never let me down.

“I’m just so thankful to Hugo and the owners for keeping me on the horse.”

Rajinsky and Harry Davies (orange) coming home to win the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham racecourse
Rajinsky and Harry Davies (orange) coming home to win the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham racecourse (Joe Giddens/PA)

Palmer may now have to reassess Rajinsky’s targets, saying: “Plan A was to go for the Chester Cup. I thought if he could run between six to eight lengths behind Trueshan and have a blow, that would put him spot on for Chester, but I might have to re-think that plan now.

“He was entered in the Chester Cup this week and the weights come out next week, in which time he will be re-assessed.

“I think it is a bit of a leap of faith to say that was the best version of Trueshan, but he is still a dual Group One winner and that is a hell of a scalp for our horse to take.

“Like Trueshan, he is a ground-dependent horse and we need to find ground where there is cut in it. I can’t believe there is a huge amount of improvement in him at the age of seven, but he will still be very entertaining for us.

“We took him to France for a Group One last year but that came at the end of a long season and he probably left his effort on the Rowley Mile in the Cesarewitch Trial.

“I think there could be a lot of options for him back in France and it is definitely something we will keep an eye on.”

Brian Ellison’s Tashkhan plugged on gamely to take third spot, but there was no trainer happier than Nicky Henderson after Buzz returned from a 508-day injury absence.

The nine-year-old finished last of the five runners, beaten just shy of 27 lengths, but the Seven Barrows handler could not hide his delight about seeing the popular dual-purpose performer back on track.

He said: “We ummed and ahhed a bit this morning about whether to even run him because when it went heavy this morning, I got nervous. He got tired in it, of course he has, but if he’s all right in the morning, on we go.

Trainer Nicky Henderson speaks to jockey Rossa Ryan before the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham racecourse
Trainer Nicky Henderson speaks to jockey Rossa Ryan before the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham racecourse (Joe Giddens/PA)

“He enjoyed himself and Rossa (Ryan) said he came onto the bridle turning into the straight following Trueshan and I thought ‘oh good’ but not surprisingly he got tired.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but we’ve got him back on a racecourse. We decided we weren’t going to hurdle him this time around and we would stick to the Flat which takes the pressure off a little bit, but if he’s all right in the morning we will be very happy.

“It was lovely to see him back, he’s enjoyed himself and Rossa was great – he’s looked after him. He had a nice time.”



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King outlines Trueshan worry after Nottingham defeat

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Alan King is worried Trueshan could have been in one too many battles having finished only second on his reappearance in Nottingham’s Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes.

A winner of 13 of his 22 starts, the dual Group One scorer used the Colwick Park Listed contest as his starting point 12 months ago and was the 4-9 favourite to defend his crown and make a winning return.

However, having travelled smoothly into contention at the three-furlong pole, he could not get past Hugo Palmer’s Rajinsky, leaving the Barbury Castle handler to ponder if his star stayer has gone to the well once too often – with his next outing potentially proving crucial.

He said: “I’m very disappointed. He hasn’t run a bad race, but it was disappointing.

“Hollie thought she would win three out but knew she was beat two out.

“I just worry he has had a lot of very hard battles and just worry it is starting to leave its mark on him mentally. That’s what worries me more than anything, but we will know more after his next race.

“He will have to step forward from that and I’m not even sure where we would go.

“I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t disappointed, I’m very disappointed and I am concerned about whether he is a little bit mentally scarred these days.”

Trueshan ran only five times last year due to the quick summer ground, winning the Northumberland Plate but having to settle for third behind Kyprios in the Goodwood Cup before being beaten a neck in the Doncaster Cup.

He rounded off the year with a third Long Distance Cup verdict on Champions Day at Ascot, but King said: “He’s had some brutally hard races.

“Goodwood we jarred him up and we got him back for Doncaster but he then had another hard, deep race. He ran terribly well at Goodwood, but at Doncaster he was remembering that and didn’t let himself down. We got him back for Ascot but that was a gruelling race as well.”

Trueshan (left) had to battle for success on Champions Day
Trueshan (left) had to battle for success on Champions Day (John Walton/PA)

When asked if race fitness played its part on reappearance, King added: “He has worked awfully well and we don’t weigh them, but we had to go for an extra long girth to get round him today – he looked really big and powerful.

“He was having a nice blow without an excessive one and I don’t want to use that as an excuse, but the next race will tell us a lot.”

Despite his defeat, Trueshan is still the 11-2 favourite, pushed out from 9-2, with Coral for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, with Kyprios a doubt to defend his title.



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Trueshan returns in Further Flight Stakes

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Top-class stayer Trueshan returns to action in the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham on Wednesday but Mojo Star is now a non-runner.

Having won the Goodwood Cup, the Prix du Cadran and claimed a second Long Distance Cup in 2021, Alan King’s Trueshan made a successful start to last season in this one-mile-six-furlong Listed contest.

Unsuitable conditions meant he did not run again until carrying top-weight to victory in the Northumberland Plate on the all-weather Newcastle in June, after which he was placed in the Goodwood and Doncaster Cups before completing a Long Distance Cup hat-trick on Champions Day at Ascot.

With the ground in his favour, King is looking forward to getting Trueshan back on the track.

King said: “It will be good to get him started and we’ve been very happy with him at home, but it’s a good renewal isn’t it?

“It looks a good starting point and I’m very happy with him, so we’ll see.

“He’s had a similar programme, so I would have thought he’ll be similar to where he was this time last year fitness-wise. He’s ready to start back, it will obviously bring him on but it will probably bring them all on a bit.”

One returning from a lengthy absence is Nicky Henderson’s Buzz, who won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and the Ascot Hurdle in the autumn of 2021 but has been off the track since.

Brian Ellison’s Tashkhan has performed with credit in top staying races over the past couple of seasons and makes his first appearance since finishing third behind Kyprios in October’s Prix du Cadran.

Rajinsky (Hugo Palmer), Urban Artist (Hughie Morrison) an Typewriter (Andrew Balding) are the other declared runners.



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