Race Report - 10th July 2008
6.30 The Doncaster Racecourse Sponsorship Club Apprentice Handicap (2m1/2f)
Don Cantillon's dual purpose performer THAT LOOK set a good tempo under inexperienced rider Rosie Jessop and made every post a winning one. Trainer and jockey had teamed up with a winner at Doncaster earlier in the summer and Sir Mark Prescott's apprentice deserves plenty of credit for such a positive ride. That Look, who fought off the sustained challenge of Let It Be, is now likely to head for a valuable handicap hurdle at Market Rasen, reports Cantillon, whose five-year-old has been shaping well on the Newmarket schooling grounds.
7.00 The Dibco Precision Engineering Handicap (1m4f)
Frederik Tylicki set a strong gallop on favourite Amanda Carter but she simply couldn't sustain it. Instead she set up the race for the strong-travelling BOZ, who was given a super-cool ride by Jamie Spencer. Luca Cumani's colt wore a first-time visor following a couple of disappointing efforts but it was the strong pace, more than the headgear, that proved the key. Old Sporting Gesture had every chance with two to run but didn't have the legs to match the winner.
7.35 The Williams Fasteners Novice Fillies' Stakes (5f)
Maggie Lou looked the one to beat en route to a possible tilt at the Group Two Lowther Stakes next month. She ran well but couldn't repel the lesser fancied ROSABEE in a bunch finish. Vicky Haigh's filly had won a nursery at Pontefract just two days earlier off a provisional mark of 67 and, on paper, looked to face a stiff task. However, despite hanging and, according to her trainer, needing a longer trip, she proved too good under Edward Creighton. Haigh, who trains at nearby Wiseton Hall and saddled her first ever Doncaster winner Paraguay last month, took her tally to three winners in as many days.
8.05 The Baris Group Fillies' Handicap (1m)
This handicap turned into a farce as the field hack cantered for about five furlongs. The writing was on the wall for heavily backed favourite LAMBDA, who was travelling near the rear under Ryan Moore and simply couldn't get on terms when the sprint for home kicked in. David Allan's quick thinking paid off, as he stole the initiative on top weight SUMMER GOLD when it became apparent that he wasn't going to get a lead. Eric Alston's winner was defying a career-high mark, while Sir Michael Stoute's favourite may be worth another chance in a truly run race.
8.40 The Mollart Cox Maiden Stakes (6f)
Top Tribute had been supported to make a winning debut for Tom Tate but got fractious at the start and refused to enter the stalls. Royal Encore, with Jamie Spencer gunning for a double, was odds-on to land this weak maiden but never travelled well and couldn't land a blow. Instead it was debutant CHOSEN FOREVER who got the better of a photo-finish verdict with Billy Bowmore. The winner, a home-bred gelding by Choisir, didn't beat much and may be hard to place, however.
9.10 The Haf Power Tools Stakes (5f)
Ron Harris's pair MISARO and Best One came into this competitive race in good form and fought out the finish with Colorus. It was top weight Misaro, speedy enough to have broken two track records, who got home first under Hadden Frost, with Best One losing out to Colorus in the battle for second. Misaro will go up a grade in future but is a tough nut to crack on a fast track when the ground is in his favour.
