Saturday 31st October
Listed winner Laaheb: 'one to look forward to' - Jarvis. Picture: Chris Bourchier
LAAHEB took star billing with an impressive Listed victory as the curtain fell on Newmarket’s 2009 season.
The Michael Jarvis-trained colt impressed when turning over the odds-on favourite Prince Siegfried in the bet365 Jane Seymour Stakes.
Jarvis' charge was unraced as a two-year old but has now won four of his last five starts and looks very much on the upgrade judged on his latest triumph.
Sent off a 3/1 chance under jockey Richard Hills, he hit the front with a furlong to go in the mile and a quarter contest and held off Prince Siegfried for a length success.
Jarvis, enjoying his second day back on a racecourse since his heart operation, said: “He showed us plenty as a two-year old before fracturing a pastern which prevented him from running (in 2008).
"So we took our time with him and he has progressed - he’s one to look forward to."
The Henry Cecil-trained Timepiece showed a game attitude to take the Casino At bet365.com EBF Montrose Fillies’ Stakes in the hands of Eddie Ahern.
The daughter of Zamindar followed in the footsteps of her half-sister Passage of Time who landed this event for connections in 2006.
Ahern always had the 4/1 chance close to the pace and she travelled smoothly before taking up the running at ‘The Bushes’.
The Richard Hannon-trained Nurture joined her at the furlong pole but Timepiece finally emerged victorious from a cracking battle, scoring by a nose.
A thrilled Cecil said: "I’m glad she has won but perhaps she was a little over the top.
“I nearly put her away after her last win but decided to run as she looked so well. The ground was probably also a bit soft for her. There’s definitely more to come.”
Teddy Grimthorpe representing the winning owner, Khalid Abdulla said: “I’d like to think that she’ll stay about a mile and a quarter next year. Her sister (Passage of Time) didn’t stay a mile and a half but Father Time (her brother) does well so we’ll see. She’s a lengthy, scopey filly who’s going the right way.”
The bet365 Ben Marshall Stakes was won by the Tom Dascombe-trained Prince of Dance, who completed a hat-trick to preserve his 100 per cent record.
The son of Danehill Dancer, a 7/2 chance, was slightly keen in the hands of Richard Kingscote but had enough in the tank to outbattle Shaweel and Bushman.
On entering the straight there was very little between the three but it was Kingscote who came out on top by a head aboard his progressive mount.
A delighted Dascombe said: “The rain helps. He’s by Danehill Dancer and most of them like to get their toe in.
“This was a great way to finish the year. He has only had three runs so he should be better next year and gives us something to look forward to.”
Secrecy overcame trouble in running to take the bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed handicap for the in-form Godolphin team and jockey Frankie Dettori.
The 7/4 favourite was held up by Dettori but the gaps came when needed and the son of King’s Best quickened up well in the ground to scoot clear, prevailing by five lengths.
Simon Crisford, racing manager for Godolphin, said: “It’s really pleasing to see him return to winning ways. He’ll now head to Dubai for the carnival (next spring)."
There was a tremendous finish to the bet365 0800322365 Zetland Conditions Stakes which saw Take It To The Max edge out Anhar after an arduous tussle lasting over two furlongs.
The winner needed all of jockey Jimmy Fortune’s strength to get him up having been headed by the favourite Anhar inside the final furlong.
He travelled well throughout and saw out the 1m2f trip well in what was testing ground for these youngsters.
Winning trainer George Moore, who hasn’t saddled a runner at Newmarket since the 2007 Cesarewitch, added: “He’s a game fella. He’s always been crying out for a trip and the rain came just in time for him.
“We have no targets for him but he’s already rated 97 so things are going to be tough for him. But we’ve always thought that he’s good.”
Revered took the opening division of the Financials At Bet365 EBF fillies’ maiden by half a length for trainer Sir Michael Stoute and jockey Kieren Fallon.
It was a third maiden winner in 24 hours for Juddmonte stallion Oasis Dream and this Abdulla-owned filly looks to be one to keep on the right side of.
Grimthorpe said: “She is a nice filly. She has plenty of size and is more like her half-sister Promising Lead than her full sister Visit.
The second division, won last year by subsequent Oaks' heroine Sariska, saw the Brian Meehan-trained Field Day land the spoils in the style of a high-class filly in the making.
She travelled with ease throughout and showed an impressive turn of foot to put the race to bed inside the final furlong, winning by a length and a half.
The final race of the year at Newmarket, the Poker at bet365.com handicap, was won by the Henry Candy-trained Bended Knee under jockey Fergus Sweeney.
Like many of this afternoon’s winners she was forced pull out all the stops but did so gamely and held on by a head.
Racing resumes on the Rowley Mile in April 2010 with the always eagerly-awaited Craven Meeting. We hope to see you then!
By Jackie Jarvis