Race Report -10th September 2011

Ladbrokes St. Leger Day - Saturday

By Simon Mapletoft

2.05 One Call Insurance Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (7f)

TRUMPET MAJOR was a surprise winner of this high profile opener but proved his run in soft ground at Sandown all wrong. Better suited by the quicker conditions at Town Moor, he was produced with a strong stands-side run by Richard Hughes and, according to assistant trainer Richard Hannon Jnr, may return to Doncaster for next month's Group One Racing Post Trophy. Favourite Entifaadha, defending an unbeaten record, may have been disadvantaged by a muddling early pace but the game Red Duke stayed on with purpose to be second despite a Group 2 penalty, and remains a fine prospect.

2.35 Ladbrokes Portland Handicap (51/2f)

Irish raider David Marnane won this prestigious race for the second time following Santo Padre's success a couple of years ago. This time it was South African-bred NOCTURNAL AFFAIR who landed the spoils in the hands of Neil Callan - a late replacement for Joseph O'Brien.

Callan's intended mount was a non-runner so the owner, a friend of the jockey, snapped up his services. Nocturnal Affair isn't in next week's Ayr Gold Cup but may head off to Dubai in the winter, according to Marnane. Tim Easterby's Confessional added another big race second place to his CV and deserves to win a similar race.

3.10 Ladbrokes St Leger (Group One) (1m61/2f)

John Gosden celebrated his third St Leger win in the last five years when the imposing MASKED MARVEL galloped his rivals into submission in a track record time. Gosden, successful last year with Arctic Cosmos, had been targeting this race since the winter and stable jockey William Buick executed his tactics to perfection. As Masked Marvel quickened clear inside the final quarter-mile, favourite Sea Moon endured a troubled passage as French jockey Olivier Peslier found himself short of room at a crucial stage. Despite that, Sea Moon ran on to be third, just behind Brown Panther, who dug deep in the hands of Kieren Fallon to finish a creditable second for his owner Michael Owen. He had been given special dispensation to travel to Town Moor for the world's oldest Classic before rejoining his Manchester United team mates for their evening game at Bolton. Blue Bunting, bidding to become the first filly to win the race since User Friendly in 1992, was never travelling and Frankie Dettori felt the dual Classic-winning second favourite had probably had one race too many this season.

3.45 AgriArgo UK Tractor Challenge Handicap (1m Sr)

You just can't keep a good man down, and Frankie Dettori quickly swept aside his St Leger disappointment by winning this handicap on MAN OF ACTION. The Italian was a late replacement for Robert Havlin after his intended mount Sarrsar was declared a non-runner. Man Of Action, switched off out the back, showed an electric turn of foot to thwart favourite Eton Forever, who made a pleasing return from a mid-season break. Cambridgeshire hopeful Cry Fury didn't appear suited by the drop in trip following an impressive display over a mile and a quarter previously.

4.15 APC Industrial Services Park Stakes (Group 2) (7f)

PREMIO LOCO had finished third in the Group One Lockinge Stakes earlier in the season but hadn't had his favoured fast ground since.

However, he made the most of the quickening conditions to land the £56,710 prize for delighted owner Bernard Westley. Premio Loco got the better of the four-year-old Dafeef, who compromised his chance by missing the break and then running too free. This still rates as a promising effort, though. Previous Park Stakes winners Balthazaar's Gift and Irish raider Duff again failed to sparkle and don't look as good as they once were.

4.50 Stratstone Endurance Nursery (1m Str)

Burano, making his handicap debut, deserves plenty of credit for beating all bar ANJAZ after cutting out much of the running in the face of a stiff headwind. He will surely win a handicap, while the winner looks upwardly mobile. Saeed Bin Suroor's filly was produced from off the pace by Frankie Dettori to complete a double for the Godolphin team. It wouldn't be a surprise to see her go in pursuit of some black type before the end of the season.

5.25 Powell Engineering Handicap (1m4f)

SWIFT ALHAARTH made all the running to win this for Mark Johnston and Silvestre de Sousa. He had been nailed close home under similar tactics in recent outings, but was brave when he needed to be to fend off Midnight Oil. The runner-up carried his head a little high, suggesting he may have preferred a little more give in the ground, while Agent Archie was a well beaten third. Sir Henry Cecil's Picture Editor, returning to handicapping, travelled well but probably didn't stay.