Racing Centre

Derby next for impressive Bronze Cannon?

BRONZE CANNON may next be seen in the Derby after recording a second successive victory on The NatWest Rowley Mile.

The John Gosden-trained colt took the Capital Spreads Handicap by two-and-quarter lengths today before being cut to as short as 16/1 for the Classic at Epsom. While his rating of 94 would suggest the Anthony Oppenheimer-owned Bronze Cannon needs to improve significantly to play a part at the business end of the Derby, his fourth win on the trot shows he is still progressing.

Hugo Lascelles, racing advisor to Oppenheimer, said: “John and Mr Oppenheimer are away, so we will have a sit down next week and make a plan. He is still in the Derby and it will be considered. But he is a lovely little horse. He is not big but has a huge heart.”

Bronze Cannon had been ridden by Jimmy Fortune, who had earlier triumphed on Saucy Brown in the Buildbase Maiden. Trainer Richard Hannon’s charge, an 11/2 shot, was doing plenty of smart work at the end of the five-furlong event as he prevailed by a length from Aakef.

Richard Hannon jnr, assistant to his father, said: “He is a horse who has always shown a lot and we think quite a bit of him. He has a lot of scope and is a six-furlong horse rather five. He’d be among our Royal Ascot possibles.”

The other maiden on the card - sponsored by Boyton Hall Equine Centre, Monks Eleigh - went to Classic Descent in decisive fashion. The Peter Makin-trained colt took no prisoners as he steamrollered his rivals in winning by five lengths for Seb Sanders.

The jockey said: “He did it a lot better than I thought he would. He made my life easy, doing everything right.”

Other winners today were Bienheureux, (Countryside Day Ladies’ Handicap), Ajigolo (Goldstar Transport Handicap) and Burnbrake (nrcd.co.uk Handicap).

The next racing at Newmarket will be on The July Course where our summer season gets underway in earnest on June 20 when Bryan Adams will play on the first of the legendary Newmarket Nights.

By Tony Rushmer