Monday 20 June 2011

Ponte` Review


Distant Memories could well try for more good prizes over a mile and a half after striking at the first attempt at that distance in the totepool Pontefract Castle Stakes.

The five-year-old added this Listed contest at the West Yorkshire track to a Group Three success over a mile and a quarter at Windsor, but it was a close call.

In a dramatic finish, the 5-2 favourite just held the late charge of Ted Spread by a nose to complete a double for Jamie Spencer, but only after a stewards' inquiry. Vulcanite was three-quarters of a length away in third in a finish that saw several horses come close together in the dash to the line.

Trainer Tom Tate reported: "Jamie said he got every inch of the trip. We tried him at this distance as he'd reached the top of his game over a mile and a quarter. He's a fast horse and uses a lot of fuel, so whether he'll genuinely get it (the trip), I don't know. It would open a lot of doors."

Vulcanite's jockey, Jim Crowley, was banned for three days (July 3-5) for careless riding.

My Propeller provided the first leg of a 6-1 double for Spencer when thrashing her field by 17 lengths in division two of the EBF toteplacepot Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Peter Chapple-Hyam's two-year-old put behind her a slightly disappointing debut in spectacular fashion. The heavily-backed 11-10 favourite, owned by footballer Joey Barton, was soon well clear and Spencer could afford to ease her down in the closing stages.

The jockey said: "She won very easily and gave me a lovely feel. She won a long way, but she felt nice. At halfway I couldn't believe it and I had a good look round. They expected her to win at Newmarket but, for whatever reason, she was just very green."

Nearly A Gift (3-1 favourite) had far too much racecourse knowledge for her rivals in division one. With three runs under her belt, the Tim Easterby-trained youngster also made all to come home seven lengths clear of Goal Hanger.

"She's had the three runs and knows her job. She had vital experience which is what you need, especially on this track," said jockey David Allan.


My Arch mowed down Dazinski close home in the totesport.com Pontefract Cup and now has a target at Glorious Goodwood.

Tom Queally struck late on the Ollie Pears-trained nine-year-old (8-1) to take this stamina test by a neck at the West Yorkshire track, with another seven lengths back to Wells Lyrical in third.

Pears said: "He'll go for the Goodwood Stakes if the ground is soft enough. He'll get a penalty for the Northumberland Plate, but I don't think he'll get in. There's the race at Newmarket (in August) he won last year. The ground will dictate where we go. He's the absolute apple of my eye."

The David Barron-trained Suits Me (16-1) showed his younger rivals the way home in the totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap.

The eight-year-old quickly settled into his stride for Micky Fenton and was content to bowl along. Though the pack closed in as the race hotted up in the straight, Suits Me kept pulling out more and bravely held on by a length from the strong-finishing Our Joe Mac.

"He's happiest when he's allowed to make the running. It's best to let him get on with it," said Barron.


Stagecoach Danman (13-8 favourite) ran his rivals into the ground with a convincing win in the Try totequickpick On All totepool Bets Maiden Stakes. Silvestre de Sousa brought Mark Johnston's three-year-old six lengths clear of Star Commander.

"He suffers from an unusual from of stringhalt (a form of lameness) which has developed over time. He deserved that as he just got done on the line last time," said the trainer.

The Ian Williams-trained Princess Lexi (13-2) found a clear route on the far side in the hands of Franny Norton to claim the toteexacta Fillies' Handicap by a length from Silly Gilly.

The Alan McCabe-trained Close To The Edge (5-1) powered home along the centre of the course under Martin Harley to lift the Try totequickpick If You're Feeling Lucky Handicap.