25 June
IT was an afternoon to remember for jockey Neil Callan who rode a treble at his local track. The Irishman landed the most valuable race of the day, the £150,000 Tattersalls Millions 3Y0 Cup, aboard the Roger Varian-trained Dominant.
The son of Cacique, sent off an 11/2 chance, routed a competitive looking field by five lengths in the style of a pattern performer.
A delighted Varian said: “We decided to miss Ascot for this race so it’s worked out well. He’ll get a hike in the weights for this so handicaps are out of the question now so we’ll look for a Listed or Group 3 for him.”
Callan kicked started his afternoon when making all to win the Try timeform.betfair.com on your smartphone Fred Archer Stakes aboard Jukebox Jury.
It was a tremendous training performance by trainer Mark Johnston to bring this son of Montjeu back after 343 days off the track and he battled hard to win this Listed prize by half a length.
The winning owner, Alan Spence, said: “It has just been small niggles which have kept him off the track, nothing serious but it has taken a while.
“On paper he looked well-in as he is a Group 1 and Group 2 winner running off level weights. He’s got an entry in the King George at Ascot. That’s flying a bit high but you’ve got to dream.”
Callan landed a hat-trick aboard 5/1 chance Dark Promise in the Carter Cancer Centre EBF Fillies’ handicap, completing a double for Varian.
The feature on the card, the John Sunley Memorial Criterion Stakes, went to the Richard Hannon-trained Libranno who made all under Ryan Moore.
Moore grabbed the stands rail on the 9/1 shot and he showed a game attitude to hold off all the challenges, winning by a length.
Damien McDowell, son of the winning owner Oliver, said: “That was fantastic. The trip was perfect for him. He chased home Native Khan over a mile in the Craven which was a good run but then had too much weight in races at Ascot and Windsor.
“We’ll stick to seven furlongs for now and go for something like the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.”
Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes landed the opener, the Fee Group PLC maiden, with debutant Rockinanate (9/2) who wore down Burano close home to win by half a length.
Hughes completed his double when steering Lily’s Angel (6/1) to success in the totesport.com Empress Stakes.
The Richard Fahey-trained filly suffered interference two furlongs out but ran on strongly up the hill to beat Pearl Diva by a half a length.
Octogenarian Lilly Pak, part of the winning syndicate, Middleham Park Racing, said: “This is wonderful as she is named after me. She has won four of her six races and is just getting better and better.”
Burj Nahar (11/2) looks set for bigger tests in the future after taking the Agora Cancer Centre handicap after 598 days off the track.
The Saeed bin Suroor trained-colt routed a decent field under Mikael Barzalona, scoring by two and a quarter lengths.
Day One of the Piper-Hiedsieck July Festival kicks off on Thursday 7th July.
