Race Report - 17th May 2008
6.10 Doncaster Free Press Property Today Apprentice Handicap (1m4f)
It was Malton trainer Richard Fahey who was making the headlines on Doncaster Free Press night, saddling the first three winners totalling accumulative odds of 1,153-1! AMANDA CARTER set the ball rolling in this opening contest, stretching out well on her favoured fast ground to beat the staying on Kames Park by a comfortable margin. Jamie Moriarty, Fahey's capable claimer, was on board the filly, who is likely to be turned out quickly as she escapes a penalty as a winner of an apprentice race.
6.40 Doncaster Free Press Motors Today Maiden Auction Stakes (5f)
Richard Fahey's stable jockey Paul Hanagan was a late replacement for Jamie Moriarty on 40/1 outsider MASTER NOVERRE, who proved too good for his better fancied rivals. The colt looked very fit for his debut but was not an easy conveyance for Hanagan, as he drifted across to the stand rail in the closing stages. Favourite Ritzy Wildcat stayed on without ever troubling the leaders, while Russet Reward and Bees River, who filled the minor placings, look capable of winning a maiden in due course.
7.15 Doncaster Free Press Jobs Today Median Auction Maiden Stakes (6f)
HARRISON GEORGE came with a strong late rattle to complete the hat-trick for Richard Fahey, and a quickfire double for his jockey Paul Hanagan. Rated 79, the colt arrived at Town Moor on the back of a string of creditable efforts and didn't really need to improve on those to win this. Whether he can translate the form into handicaps remains to be seen, but he was three parts of a length too good for the less experienced Mark Of Meydan, the Michael Dods runner who is improving and one to note in a similar event.
7.45 Doncaster Racecourse Sponsorship Club Handicap (6f)
The application of first-time blinkers certainly set CHARLES DARWIN alight as he bolted to a resounding success for Michael Blanshard and his jockey James Doyle. The gelding had suffered from a wind problem last season but, with that behind him, and the headgear on, connections felt they had rediscovered the key to him and so it proved. Charles Darwin blazed a trail to hold off favourite Rainbow Fox, who was bidding to give trainer Richard Fahey a four-timer and jockey Paul Hanagan a hat-trick.
8.20 South Yorkshire Times Handicap (7f)
Mikael Magnusson looks to have a smart prospect in THRONE OF POWER, a stunning looking colt who initiated a double for Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy. However, things didn't appear to be going to plan for the favourite in the early part of the race as he struggled to keep up with a strong gallop. Racing over a trip shorter than idea, he eventually picked up and was travelling much better than his rivals as he hit the line in front. The Queen's Firestreak was a creditable second and Richard Hannon's gelding may have been unlucky to come up against such a potentially smart rival in an otherwise ordinary race.
8.50 Profile Fillies' Handicap (1m Rnd)
Kerrin McEvoy made his dash to Doncaster doubly worthwhile when he supplemented his win in the previous race with another success on the William Haggas filly STORYLAND. She took a while to find her feet in a race run at a crawl in the early stages, but once asserting, she got there a shade cosily. Richard Hannon, collared in the previous race, had to settle for second spot again with Talk Of Saafend, who has a similar race within her reach.
