Saturday 23 October 2010

Roger Has A Winner...or two!


Clowance made a rousing return to action after a 189-day lay-off to take the Group Three John Smith's (St Simon) Stakes at Newbury.

Roger Charlton's five-year-old daughter of Montjeu revelled in the soft ground to win the mile-and-a-half contest by a ready two lengths.

Galvanised by a textbook hold-up ride from Richard Hughes, Clowance was nudged into contention two furlongs out and waltzed clear of runner-up Poet and Dreamspeed inside the final 150 yards.

Hughes said: "She was a bit fresh early, but was always going to win halfway up the straight."

Owner Barry Hurley said of the 7-2 favourite: "We've had to be very patient but she has never had anything serious wrong with her, just little things. She just has to have soft ground.

"I might keep her in training as there's no rush to get her to the paddocks and you don't get too many fillies as good as her, but it will be up to Roger."

Al Kazeem had already given Charlton a lift with a fine victory in division one of the Wade Willis 50th Birthday EBF Maiden Stakes.

The Beckhampton trainer has been advised to rest his back for the time being and will have been delighted to see his colt take another step forward from his eyecatching debut fifth at this track a fortnight ago.

Steve Drowne eased Al Kazeem into contention and they found enough on the soft ground to master fellow 5-2 co-favourite Thimaar by a length.

The trainer's assistant Tom Grantham said: "We're very pleased and he has obviously improved from his first run. Steve said the ground was OK for him, but he would probably like it better. He doesn't need to do any more this season but should make a nice three-year-old."