Saturday 27th June 2009
Imbongi in Group 3 triumph
Imbongi wins the John Bovington Memorial Criterion Stakes. Picture: Chris Bourchier
IMBONGI defied a sizeable drift in the market to win the John Bovington Memorial Criterion Stakes at Newmarket this afternoon.
The South African raider went for a walk in the betting, sliding all the way out to 8s from 4-1. But no one told the horse!
Trainer Mike De Kock’s charge hit the front over two furlongs from home and galloped on resolutely all the way to the line, scoring in the Group 3 by a length and a quarter from Huntdown.
De Kock’s assistant, Juan Nel, said: “He had been working well and was in good form - I just wish I was nearer a bookmakers when he drifted off the boards!
“He will go next for the Summer Mile at Ascot on July 11 - the race that we won with Archipenko last year.”
Trainer Michael Jarvis has been travelling all over the country searching for a bit of juice in the ground for his All The Aces. The horse had been declared for numerous stakes races as far a field as Chester and Pontefract - the irony was, when the ground came the horse’s way, it was on his backdoor step in the totesport.com Fred Archer Stakes. The son of Spartacus revelled in the underfoot cushion, romping home by six lengths from Wasan.
Jarvis said: “He is a nice horse when conditions are right - he just needs safe ground like he encountered today. He could on to the continent next for a German Group 1 or a similar race in Italy.”
The Newmarket-based handler recorded a double on the day when Alazayeb had all the answers in the Treasure Beach Hotel Barbados handicap. He beat Winter Cast for his second career success.
Jarvis said: “We are pleased with that and will now think about returning here for a mile and a quarter handicap at the Champagne Lanson July Festival.”
Jira showed a neat turn of foot to settle the Sunley Empress Stakes. She had shown up well for much of the Albany Stakes before finishing seventh and this drop into Listed grade was always likely to see her in a competitive light and so it proved.
She burst from out the back towards the far rail and hit the front well inside the final furlong before scoring by a neck for jockey Kevin Shea, who was also aboard Imbongi.
Bruce Raymond, racing advisor to the winning owner Saeed Manana, said: “Rabbah’s racing manager Bruce Raymond said: “She ran an exceptional race on what was the wrong side at Royal Ascot in the Albany Stakes.
“But she came here with a good chance and her jockey was very impressed with her. He said from three furlongs out that he knew she was going to win. She has shown a good turn on foot and has done it well, so we are delighted.
Missionaire got off the mark at the second time of asking in the Desi Dillingham Birthday Maiden over 7f this afternoon. The son of El Corredor seemed to have learnt from his debut second at Windsor earlier in the month and showed a very professional attitude today.
He got the better of Dubawi Phantom in a cracking duel, scoring in the end by a half a length.
Trainer William Knight said of his 5-2 winner: “We are very pleased with that. He did it in workmanlike style but that’s how he is at home - he always just does enough.”
Cumana Bay took the betterbet-sponsored 1m fillies’ handicap and Violent Veracity landed a morning gamble with victory in the concluding Agora Apprentice handicap.
“But she came here with a good chance and her jockey was very impressed with her. He said from three furlongs out that he knew she was going to win. She has shown a good turn on foot and has done it well, so we are delighted.
Missionaire got off the mark at the second time of asking in the Desi Dillingham Birthday Maiden over 7f this afternoon. The son of El Corredor seemed to have learnt from his debut second at Windsor earlier in the month and showed a very professional attitude today.
He got the better of Dubawi Phantom in a cracking duel, scoring in the end by a half a length.
Trainer William Knight said of his 5-2 winner: “We are very pleased with that. He did it in workmanlike style but that’s how he is at home - he always just does enough.”
Cumana Bay took the betterbet-sponsored 1m fillies’ handicap and Violent Veracity landed a morning gamble with victory in the concluding Agora Apprentice handicap.
Rabbah’s racing manager Bruce Raymond said: “She ran an exceptional race on what was the wrong side at Royal Ascot in the Albany Stakes.“But she came here with a good chance and her jockey was very impressed with her. He said from three furlongs out that he knew she was going to win. She has shown a good turn on foot and has done it well, so we are delighted.
Missionaire got off the mark at the second time of asking in the Desi Dillingham Birthday Maiden over 7f this afternoon. The son of El Corredor seemed to have learnt from his debut second at Windsor earlier in the month and showed a very professional attitude today.
He got the better of Dubawi Phantom in a cracking duel, scoring in the end by a half a length.
Trainer William Knight said of his 5-2 winner: “We are very pleased with that. He did it in workmanlike style but that’s how he is at home - he always just does enough.”
Cumana Bay took the betterbet-sponsored 1m fillies’ handicap and Violent Veracity landed a morning gamble with victory in the concluding Agora Apprentice handicap.
By Tony Rushmer
