Racing Centre

Centennial and Young Pretender gave Newmarket trainer John Gosden two more winners at his local track 

TRAINER John Gosden has this summer brought some smart two-year-olds to the July Course - not least Centennial and Young Pretender, maiden winners at Newmarket’s latest two-day fixture.

On August 17, Centennial emulated stable-mates Legislation and Sense Of Joy as he found his way into the winner’s enclosure at racing’s HQ.

The Dalakhani colt shaped like a very exciting prospect as he took the Stablecare EBF maiden on his second competitive start, making all under Jimmy Fortune in the mile event.

Gosden’s charge, returned the 4-6 winner, won’t be over campaigned at two but should have a bright future ahead of him, judging by the fluent, giant stride he demonstrated in quickening away from Moville to prevail by a length-and-three-quarters.

Bury Road-based Gosden said: “He is a green, leggy horse who should come on for that. However, he would not want a harsh two-year-old season, that’s for sure.

“He is well entered up but I wouldn’t want to go in the deep, deep end with him - we will maybe look for a conditions race.”

Gosden wasn’t present the following afternoon (August 18) as Young Pretender made a winning debut in the six-furlong Unicorn Asset Management July Series maiden. The 7-2 chance galloped away in the closing stages to record an impressive three-length triumph.

That formed the first leg of a brace for jockey Martin Dwyer, who was also successful aboard Rowan River in the concluding Lloyds TSB Agriculture handicap.

Fellow jockey Ted Durcan can also point to a double after victories aboard 5-1 shot Compton’s Eleven and later Horseford Hill (Lloyds TSB Financial Markets Division handicap).

Durcan’s win on the top weight Compton’s Eleven in the skybet.com Grey Horse handicap was especially thrilling. The game six-year-old just held on by a diminishing short head from Certain Justice, who fairly rattled home.

It wasn’t just the older members of the weighing-room making their mark as rising stars Liam Jones and William Buick also hit the target. Jones booted in King’s Apostle for his boss William Haggas in the Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking handicap while fellow 3lb claimer Buick was victorious on Lap Of Honour (Lloyds TSB Cardnet handicap).

Looking back at Friday night’s action, as well as Centennial’s display, Medicea Sidera caught the eye. The daughter of Medicean landed a seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket last month and recorded a follow-up course and distance success in the fillies’ handicap to give trainer Ed Vaughan his fifth winner from his last 14 runners.

Vaughan, a tenant of fellow Newmarket handler Henry Cecil, said: “She is incredibly tough; the softest part of her is her tooth enamel. She just keeps pulling out more and keeps improving.”

The card proved to be a good one for local trainers as James Toller saddled Barney McGrew to land the newmarketracecourses.co.uk handicap and fellow Hamilton Road inhabitant Geoff Huffer was on the score-sheet with Sonny Parkin (Portland Place Properties handicap).

Marlborough-based Richard Hannon and Epsom’s Terry Mills ensured that it was not a clean sweep for the ’home’ team as Redesignation was victorious for the former in the TurfTV median auction maiden, while Before You Go took the NGK Spark Plugs conditions race.

The July Course’s final two-day fixture of the season begins next Friday afternoon (August 24).

By Tony Rushmer