Race Report - 21st July 2011
6.20 The tyregiant.com Maiden Auction Fillies' Stakes (7f)
GOLDEN VALLEY had stayed on with purpose on debut at Windsor so it was no surprise to see her attract late support before putting the opening race of Doncaster's Yorkshire Racing Festival fixture to bed with some aplomb. Rod Millman's filly, ridden by young Italian Andrea Atzeni, appreciated the step up in trip to outgun Alice Rose, who was making the frame for the third time in succession. The favourite, Oddysey, travelled widest of all and looked a threat, but had no answer to the first two home, who both travelled closer to the stand rail.
6.50 The Welcome To Yorkshire Art Of Yorkshire Garden Handicap Stakes (6f)
The pace in this sprint was frenetic, so front runner Sea Salt did well to keep up the gallop as long as he did before just getting run out of it in the closing stages. Kieren Fallon played late on KINGS 'N DREAMS, who was well handicapped for this drop in trip. Chasing him home was Mount Hollow, who also came from the back to lay down his challenge. He's A Humbug ran well to be fourth, just behind Sea Salt, and looks capable of winning something similar.
7.25 The Skybet Supporting The Yorkshire Racing Summer Festival Handicap (6f)
York Glory was popular here but the 6-5 favourite - raised 5lb for a defeat at Haydock last time - proved vulnerable to a stronger finisher in the shape of FAST SHOT. Tim Easterby's winner had impressed by scoring in a decent time at Catterick previously and avenged a recent course defeat by the staying on Shesastar. Maverick ran a better race on this return to sprinting, settling better in the early part of the race, but may have benefitted from a bit more cover, nevertheless.
7.55 The Esquires Coffee Wheatley Retail Park Fillies' Handicap (7f)
The fancied Wallis was reluctant to load and travelled without her usual verve, but the favourite GLADYS' GAL duly confirmed the promise of her Lingfield maiden win. She had two subsequent winners behind that day and never looked like being beaten here, completing a double for jockey Andrea Atzeni. No Poppy shaped well to be second, though few really got into this. Gracefield, like Wallis, was disappointing, and perhaps needs to revert to a mile.
8.30 The One Call Insurance Handicap (11m21/2f)
DUBAWI DANCER looked very well handicapped, despite her penalty, and made no mistake in winning her third race from just four starts this season. William Haggas's filly, the mount of champion Paul Hanagan, travelled strongly behind the leaders before taking it up inside the final quarter-mile. Man Of God, switched off out the back, looked a serious danger but couldn't pick up well enough to get to the favourite and finished a well held second.
9.00 The Napoleons Casino Sheffield Handicap (1m4f)
Confirmed trailblazer Jeer had Street Legal for company and the pair set a blistering early pace. However, they predictably fell in a hole at the top of the home straight before Veiled Applause took over. He, too, failed to maintain his charge as PLATTSBURGH swept past to give Kieren Fallon a double. Mark Johnston's three-year-old - a recent Brighton winner - was too strong for the one-paced Harvey's Hope and the less than resolute Romeo Montague.
