Race Report - 8th September 2011
1.25 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Carrie Red Fillies' Nursery (61/2f)
Jamie Spencer drew first blood on day two of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival with a well-timed run on David Elsworth's ELUSIVE FLAME, a winner at Newmarket previously. She proved ideally suited by the extra yardage as she wore down the game Poetic Dancer to score by a narrow margin. Responsive also ran a brave race in third but will find life tougher now as she is due to rise significantly in the handicap from Saturday.
1.55 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes (Group 3) (7f)
John Oxx's first UK runner of the season was the Aga Khan's ALANZA, who didn't disappoint her followers in a strong renewal of the Sceptre takes, enjoying Group Three status for the first time. Johnny Murtagh flew over to take the ride on the progressive three-year-old, who had won two Listed races in her native Ireland. In the end, the weight allowance she got from the older fillies Chachamaidee and Dever Dream proved decisive as she came from off the pace to nail them both in a thrilling finish.
2.25 Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (61/2f)
It isn't often that an Aidan O'Brien winner is returned at 20-1 but those were the odds about big winner REPLY, who gave weight to all his rivals to scoop first place prize money of more than £200,000.
Partnered by the trainer's son Joseph, Reply came with a strong run from off the pace to thwart 33-1 chance Factory Time. The favourite, Bogart, travelled well at the head of the field but couldn't repel the pack and faded inside the final furlong to finish only sixth.
3.00 DFS Park Hill Stakes (Group 2) (1m61/2f)
Frankie Dettori delighted the huge Ladies' Day crowd with a flying dismount after winning the 'Fillies St Leger' on the imposing MEEZNAH.
David Lanigan's four-year-old, a Group Three winner at Goodwood earlier in the season, proved her Newbury flop all wrong by dominating to score with plenty in hand. Runner-up Set To Music, The Queen's horse, travelled ominously well in the eventual winner's slipstream but probably didn't quite see out the trip.
3.35 crownhotel-bawtry.com EBF 'Green Desert' Maiden Stakes (1m)
Charlie Hills continued his recently retired father Barry's tradition of saddling Doncaster winners when the debutant son of Motivator PERENNIAL took this hot maiden. Perennial finished strongly to edge out Godolphin's newcomer Encke - a Derby entry - and the favourite Rawaafed. The winner is a half-brother to the stable's high class Redwood and looks to have a bright future. The unlucky horse was Richard Hannon's Imperial Order, who was going well when badly hampered at a crucial stage.
4.10 Elements Medispa Handicap (6f)
Yorkshire trainer Paul Midgley followed up yesterday's win with Haajes as last week's York winner INTERNATIONALDEBUT defied top weight in this ultra-competitive handicap. Freddie Tylicki's mount defied a penalty to claim Marine Commando, who looked to be travelling best of all under champion jockey Paul Hanagan with a furlong to go. The ever- reliable Five Star Junior was third, ahead of Shropshire back in fourth.
4.40 DFS Handicap (1m21/2f)
CLUB OCEANIC, an improver from the Jeremy Noseda stable, looks set to become a leading contender for the big autumn handicap, The Cambridgeshire, following a power-packed finish here. Jamie Spencer, completing a double on the day, conjured a late run out of his mount to deny favourite Chain Lightning. Sharaayeen was always prominent and ran well, but the winner is on an upward curve following wins at Goodwood (twice) and Newmarket prior to this.
