Saturday 20th June 2009
Bright future for Silver
Silver Grecian spreadeagles the field. Picture: Chris Bourchier
JOHN RYAN introduced a potentially smart newcomer in Silver Grecian, who ran away with the InterCasino.co.uk maiden today.
The Haafhd colt was all the rage in the betting earlier in the day with his price collapsing from 18s into 5/1.
He didn’t disappoint his backers, either. Under jockey Michael Hills he tracked the speed and burst into life approaching the last of the seven furlongs.
He fairly swept Gold Diamond and stormed clear, eventually winning by four lengths. It was the performance of the day and left Newmarket trainer Ryan more than satisfied.
He said: “He was beautifully prepped for the breeze-ups and Michael Hills rode him there and he has also ridden him in his all work since. This was the start not the finish as he is a horse with a good future ahead of him.”
Another impressive debutant was In Footlights who was a decisive scorer in the InterCasino.co.uk Roulette maiden for three-year-olds. He was gleaming with health in the paddock and was sent off the 5/2 favourite.
Jockey Ted Durcan never had a moment’s bother as the Godolphin horse powered home two and a quarter lengths to the good from Wake Up Call.
Earlier in the card there had been two fantastic photo-finishes. Cyflymder got the judge’s verdict in the opening InterCasino.co.uk-sponsored opener. The Richard Hannon-trained gelding travelled at the fore of affairs before becoming embroiled in a terrific head-to-head with Santefisio.
It appeared as Cyflymder was going to get collared late on but stuck his neck out on the line to edge a photo-finish by a nose. Just over half an hour later and River Kirov just held on by a nose from Baunagain in the Intercasino.co.uk Blackjack handicap.
With the stands’ rail proving the place to be, La Zamora sped across from the three gate and never saw a rival as she came home first in the InterCasino-sponsored sprint.
Trainer John Gosden had a good day with Cosmopolitan landing the InterCasino.co.uk fillies’ handicap just 10 minutes after Bronze Cannon obliged in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The concluding handicap went the way of Norman The Great, who just mastered long-term leader Agente Romano.
We’re back racing again next Friday and Saturday: June 26-27. We hope you are, too.
Tony Rushmer
