Race Report - 17th July 2008
6.40 Society And Lifestyle Magazine Apprentice Handicap (5f)
A competitive opening event and a red-letter day for Matthew Lawson who rode his first winner on board Mel Brittain's LUJAINA. The apprentice rider, who was having just his fifth start, brought his mount with a perfectly timed challenge to take up the running inside the final furlong. Overstayed ran a sound race on his first run for a new stable, while Fast Freddie did best of those to help force a strong pace and can capitalise on this mark when better drawn.
7.05 Rectangle Group Novice Stakes (6f)
One of the feature races of the night and a thrilling finish with two horses dead-heating for the first prize. They weren't the horses most punters were expecting though with 66/1 shot ORIENTAL ROSE and selling-race winner FOL LIAM passing the post together. Whilst neither can be denied their victory, both were benefiting from the overly strong pace set by the market principals and it is probably dangerous to get carried away with the bare result.
7.35 EBF Casino Red Huddersfield Opens August Maiden Fillies' Stakes (7f)
This maiden featured some interesting contenders but with the first four finishing in a heap, the form may not be up to usual maidens at the track. The winner ZAAQYA, who had fetched a cool 300,000gns as a yearling, was building on the promise of her Newbury debut and looks the type to go on to better things, particularly once her stamina is more fully tested. Perhaps of more interest for the future was runner-up Plotting though, with her inexperience evident as she chased home John Dunlop's winner.
8.10 Moss Properties Fillies' Handicap (7f)
Michael Jarvis won a good handicap at Newmarket's July Meeting with a similar type to PERSIAN SEA and his daughter of Dubai Destination made no mistake here, justifying warm favouritism in good style. Although no match for the winner, there were encouraging signs from locally trained Musical Beat, who ran her best race of the season for the in-form Vicky Haigh stable. Three times a winner in 2007, her turn looks to be drawing closer on this evidence.
8.40 Urban-I Contemporary Living Handicap (1m2f)
SIR DUKE is one of the most progressive handicappers in training and Paul d'Arcy's charge took another step forward when landing this competitive event. Although he was dropping back down in trip, there was plenty of pace on here and that helped to bring his stamina into play. Keisha Kayleigh ran another good race in second but the disappointment of the race was the Bawtry trained El Dececy, who faded tamely having helped force the early pace.
9.10 rutlandhotel-sheffield.com handicap (1m2f)
Not much strength in depth here and Sylvester Kirk's ADDIKT was able to supplement his recent Nottingham win under a penalty, Always travelling well enough, he came from off the pace to win going away and should continue to be of interest despite the handicapper's advances. Grey Command ran a better race in second, while third-placed Timbalier confirmed he had ability and temperament in equal measure.
