Saturday 29th August 2009
Palace Moon wins Listed prize
Palace Moon in thrilling victory at Newmarket today. Picture: Chris Bourchier
THE July Course basked in the late August sun for its final meeting of 2009 and race-goers were blessed with top action as well as good weather.
Trainer Hughie Morrison looks to have another smart sprinter on his hands following Palace Moon’s success in the feature, the Listed bet365 Hopeful Stakes.
The son of Fantastic Light, who is a half brother to Morrison’s 2007 Darley July Cup winner Sakhee’s Secret, stayed on well under pressure to land the lion’s share of £40,000 from the slightly unlucky Swiss Diva in second.
Jockey Steve Drowne settled his mount, the 9/4 favourite, just off the pace, producing him at the furlong marker.
He hung left under pressure but maintained his momentum to secure a third career success by a neck.
Morrison said: “I’m pleased with that as he has not been that easy to train so we have had to give him time between his races.
“However, he started to put on weight after the Hungerford Stakes (earlier in the month at Newbury) so we thought we’d run here.
“He comes from a very decent family and although he’s not quite as good as his brother, he’s certainly in the same class as his sister Palace Affair who was a Group Three/ Listed filly.
“I’m not sure where he’ll go next but he does have an entry in the Diadem Stakes at Ascot next month.”
Red Badge got off the mark at the fifth time of asking in the bet365.com Nursery for trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Jimmy Fortune.
The son of Captain Rio raced wide of the field but picked up gamely in the closing stages to get up by half a length.
Richard Hannon jnr said: “That’s the way to lose your maiden, in a £20,000 handicap. He has improved all year and will go a mile. He ran really well in the Sales race at York last week so he really deserved a win.”
Seek N’ Destroy ran on strongly to land the Chris Blackwell Memorial handicap for jockey Richard Hills and his father, trainer Barry Hills.
Hills was able to settle the 5/1 chance off the pace and the gaps opened perfectly for him in the race, allowing his mount to gallop to a three-length win.
Richard Hills said: “He’s a nice horse. He took a bit of time to warm up but when he did, he did it well.”
Stoic gained a first career win in the WT’s Snooker and Sporting Club maiden for trainer Jeremy Noseda and jockey Shane Kelly.
The Highcere Thoroughbred Racing- owned colt looked tremendous in the paddock and did the job in encouraging style on the track.
Highclere’s Racing Manager Harry Herbert said: “He’s had some minor problems such as sore shins and splints at home so it was great to get a win.
“This is only the beginning and hopefully he can go forward from here and will make into a nice four year old for next year.”
Lord Theo stuck on well to win the finale on the card, the Mickey Flynn’s American Pool handicap for trainer Nick Littmoden in the hands of Robert Havlin. It was the son of Averti’s sixth career win and a third on the July Course.
Littmoden said: “He’s had a great summer and gone from strength to strength. He’s in at Warwick on Monday so if he pulls out okay in the morning he may run there.”
Lenny Bee was given a good ride by Philip Makin to win the Lanwades Stud Supporting Cambridge Veterinary School handicap by a length and a quarter.
Newmarket’s oldest and most historic race, the Town Plate, run over three and a quarter miles was won by Mrs Caroline Scott on board the W.B Stone- trained Artist’s Return by a distance.
Racing resumes at Newmarket next month with the action returning to the Rowley Mile course on Friday September 18.
By Jackie Jarvis
