Friday 18th June 2010
Gosden improver impresses in July Course win
Man Of Action continues his winning ways in the Home of Racing Handicap. Picture: Chris Bourchier
IT was a night of doubles on the July Course this evening with jockeys Richard Kingscote and Ted Durcan and trainer Roger Charlton all having two winners a piece.
However, the feature race on the card, the Home of Racing handicap was taken by the progressive Man of Action for trainer John Gosden and jockey William Buick.
The son of Elusive Quality scored in maiden company at the Rowley Mile last month and was tackling older horses and seasoned handicappers for the first time.
He was the well-backed 5/4 favourite and ended up running out a convincing winner. Buick always had his mount in a handy position and was in the perfect position to strike 2f from home. And on taking over the running he soon put the race to bed and went on to win by a length.
A delighted Gosden said: “He has progressed from a maiden to a handicap and did it well. He’s a bit quirky and still a bit green but we’ll see where we go from here.”
The July Course maiden was won in taking fashion by the 3/1 joint-favourite Lord of The Stars for trainer Ralph Beckett giving Kingscote his first winner of the evening.
The son of Speightstown looked fit enough for his racecourse debut and duly obliged in the style of a decent juvenile in the making.
Lord of The Stars jumped well from the stalls and Kingscote was able to grab the lead and the far side rail.
He was headed 3f out but quickened up well when asked and was soon back in front, winning by half a length.
A thrilled Kingscote said: “He was a bit green when asked to quicken but stuck his neck out well.
“He’s got plenty of speed and I’d expect him to be sharper for the run. I see no reason why he shouldn’t get seven (furlongs) in time.”
An hour later and Kingscote was in the winner's circle again this time following his win aboard Yabtree in the TurfTV handicap.
The Roger Charlton-trained colt ran out a decisive winner by two lengths having travelled strongly throughout.
Kingscote added: “That was very straightforward. He went through the motions and then picked up really well.”
Centurio completed a double for Charlton when getting up in the shadow of the post in the newmarketracecourses.co.uk maiden.
The son of Pivotal was ridden by jockey Ted Durcan who had also been successfully earlier on the card aboard Calatrava Cape.
The 5/2 shot had taken over the running when they turned for home but had been headed 2f from home.
Despite this Durcan’s mount responded well to his urgings to finish strongly, collaring Nationalism on the line.
Calatrava Cape ran out an impressive winner of the RacingUK Classified Stakes for trainer John Dunlop giving Durcan his first winner of the evening.
The daughter of Cape Cross was making her seasonal debut but had some useful form in nurseries last season.
Durcan settled his mount, an 11/2 chance, in the midfield where she moved well within herself.
She edged into contention half a mile from home and took over the running over 2f out. From that point on victory never looked in doubt and Calatrava Cape went on to score by three and a quarter lengths.
Durcan said: “She won well and loved the ground. Mr Dunlop has always liked her and hopefully we can go on from here with her.”
There was a winner for Ireland in the last when Captain Coke took the newmarketracecourses.co.uk handicap for trainer Denis Quinn and jockey Andrea Atzeni.
Sent off a 5/1 shot, the son of Fath won his previous start at Kempton and scored again this evening with a bit to spare by a length and a quarter.
The opening race of the evening, the Newmarket Nights Apprentice handicap, went the way of the Mick Chapman-trained Sacrilege in the hands of Sophie Doyle.
There were many in with a chance coming into the final furlong but it was Sacrilege who came out on top by three-quarters of a length.
Racing on the July Course resumes tomorrow with the first race scheduled for 2:10.
By Jackie Jarvis
