Race Report - 15th June 2008
2.20 Howard Hughes Memorial Heartbeat Handicap (1m)
SWOP, despite drifting at the head of the market, got favourite backers off to a flying start. Luca Cumani's lightly raced five-year-old was racing on turf for the first time but asserted to hold the persistent challenge of Sam's Secret. Obezyana, who had run so well at Haydock earlier in the week, was the one they came for, but he was never travelling and trailed home in the rear. Swop wasn't given a hard time by Joe Fanning and looks open to more improvement.
2.50 Sovereign Healthcare Heartbeat EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes (6f)
Martin Dwyer executed a quickfire double for his boss Hamdan Al Maktoum when getting odds-on favourite FAREER home from Secret Venue in this juvenile event. Given the promise he had shown on debut, he was made to work harder than expected to land this for Ed Dunlop. Fareer was, admittedly, still green and may have found the ground too lively but remains open to progress. Secret Venue is a powerful sort who was also second on debut at Beverley and looks to have a maiden within his grasp.
3.25 Brian Gaynor Memorial Handicap (6f)
This ultra-competitive sprint was dominated by the unbeaten MUSAALEM, who completed a double for jockey Martin Dwyer and continued trainer William Haggas's fine run. This imposing grey had been sidelined by a pelvic injury but built on his re-appearance at Yarmouth with a taking display over this shorter trip. He is progressing well and looks ready for a step up in grade. Mastership returned from the wilderness with a nice run in second for John Quinn and is a sprinter to follow, while Marco Botti's Orpenindeed ran another solid race in third.
4.00 Sir Rodney Walker Heartbeat Fillies' Handicap (1m21/2f)
BLACK DAHLIA, trained locally by Alan McCabe, was sent off favourite and settled this in a matter of strides with an impressive turn of foot. Jockey Pat Cosgrave never looked like being caught after asserting two furlongs out. The runner-up Red Icon, however, is one to take out of the race. Ralph Beckett's filly made up a lot of ground from a disadvantageous position and can win a similar race. She may get further.
4.35 Ann Hughes Heartbeat Maiden Stakes (1m4f)
Luca Cumani's improving Factotum, a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Falbrav, was a warm order to win this but had no response when rivals MAORI and Erdeli got first run on him at the quarter-mile pole. Maori, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Joe Fanning, powered away from eventual third Erdeli, with Factotum a one-paced fourth. Nothing finished better than Richard Fahey's Herrera, who appreciated the step up in trip and grabbed second.
5.05 Lady Walker Heartbeat Apprentice Handicap (1m61/2f)
HITS ONLY VIC, owned by former England footballer Steve Stone and Sheffield Wednesday's Steve Watson, had won in heavy conditions at Ripon but was just as happy on the fast ground at Town Moor, giving young Paul Pickard his first ever winner. Declan Carroll's stayer may be interesting if turned out quickly under a penalty, while joint-favourite Amanda Carter endured a troublesome passage and could never build up any momentum.
