A fine winter’s afternoon brought a good-sized crowd to East Surrey to enjoy a seven-race card far removed from the blandishments of Prestbury.
The opener was a maiden for 3-y-o and upward over a mile. OBERLIN, from the Mark Johnston yard, was backed down to tips on but his form didn’t read like the typical progressive Johnston 3-y-o and so it proved as the race went to the only 4-y-o GARDEN PARTY, who easily saw off his younger rivals having been up with the pace the whole way.
OBERLIN frankly had every chance. He got a great run up the rail and came to win the race but just couldn’t quicken. He’s on a mark of 72 but GARDEN PARTY is running off a mark of 65 so that probably tells you all you need to know. Of more interest was the run of WHERRY who shaped well until tiring in the final furlong. She ran a creditable third and looks one for the notebook. HAMALKA was also disappointing.
Race two was a handicap over six furlongs. BENLLECH was supported from 9/4 to 15/8 and won fairly comfortably. KEMPSEY had set the early pace and the time was quite decent but BENLLECH was always travelling well and picked up the lead in the final furlong. MUKTASB has won his last three including over CD and had gone up 16 lbs so it’s probably fair to say the handicapper has him for now.
Race three was a handicap for older horses over seven furlongs. I expected SUPER FRANK to blitz from the stall and try to make all but that didn’t happen as he missed the start. A number had chances turning for home including LANDUCCI and BAZROY but as SUPER FRANK tried to get into the race it was SAILOR KING who kept on best to score for the Ivory yard. Although the time was reasonable, this was a messy race and I’m not quite sure how the form will work out.
Race four was a handicap for older horses over a mile. CONFIDENTIALITY had looked unlucky at Wolverhampton yesterday but was still racing off 82, having started her winning sequence off a mark of 48. BERTIE SOUTHSTREET set the pace and one of the first beaten was favourite APACHE DAWN, who was very disappointing. Turning for home, none looked to be going better than CONFIDENTIALITY and as she switched to the rail, she looked sure to win but whether it was a combination of a second race in twenty four hours or a higher handicap mark, she flattened out and this allowed HIGHLAND HARVEST to quicken on and score from the fast-finishing NINTH HOUSE who is probably worth another try at ten furlongs. The winner is a CD performer but hadn’t looked in much form before his three-month layoff so a fine piece of training by David Elsworth. Connections of CONFIDENTIALITY can have little cause for complaint but perhaps she needs a rest now.
Race five was the afternoon’s feature; a Class 2 handicap over ten furlongs. An open market saw support for ALPES MARITIMES down to 9/4. The race was run at a generous pace and was hotly contested throughout. TARTAN TIE raced with the pace but was beaten on the home turn while a number still had every chance including LISATHEDADDY and SPEEDY SAM but in behind the pace both ALPES MARITIMES and SILVER PIVOTAL were waiting to pounce and it was the latter who showed a smart turn of foot in the final furlong to win a shade cosily. SGT SCHULTZ ran on late for third, which was a fine effort for a horse better known for his exploits at a mile and a half.
SPEEDY SAM and LISATHEDADDY followed the first three home acquitting themselves well. ALPES MARITIMES made the jump from Class 4 but couldn’t make the most of the weight concession from SILVER PIVOTAL. Nonetheless, he ran well and will win again though he’s not in the same class as the winner who put up a sparkling performance. SILVER PIVOTAL was having only his fifth race so there could be more improvement to come. As a 3-y-o, he won a Listed race at York’s May meeting and was beaten by Italian Girl at Ascot’s May meeting. He ran off 98 today and will doubtless be pushed up to 103+ so he enters the Winter Derby picture. It will be fascinating to see if connections being him back here for the Derby Trial race in four weeks time.
Race six was a handicap over a mile and a quarter. This race was run no less than four and a half seconds slower than the preceding event and became a sprint in the straight. MEDITATION and STARK CONTRAST led the field into the straight but could not hold off the market leaders. MR NAPOLEON had been backed from 5/4 to 11/10 but was well beaten by SRI KUANTAN who quickened impressively clear in the final furlong. He looks a fast-improving colt who can win again and I suspect another couple of furlongs won’t be a disadvantage.
Race seven was a maiden for older horses over a mile and a half. Although ostensibly a race for Flat maidens, it went to the Bumper winner OUTLANDISH, who made every yard and had too much speed and stamina for some pretty moderate opponents. APHRODISIA and FLIGHT DREAM were well held but MONDIAL JACK, probably best known as a chaser, ran on nicely for fourth. The winner was disappointing on his hurdles debut but may do better on a faster turf surface.
The opener was a maiden for 3-y-o and upward over a mile. OBERLIN, from the Mark Johnston yard, was backed down to tips on but his form didn’t read like the typical progressive Johnston 3-y-o and so it proved as the race went to the only 4-y-o GARDEN PARTY, who easily saw off his younger rivals having been up with the pace the whole way.
OBERLIN frankly had every chance. He got a great run up the rail and came to win the race but just couldn’t quicken. He’s on a mark of 72 but GARDEN PARTY is running off a mark of 65 so that probably tells you all you need to know. Of more interest was the run of WHERRY who shaped well until tiring in the final furlong. She ran a creditable third and looks one for the notebook. HAMALKA was also disappointing.
Race two was a handicap over six furlongs. BENLLECH was supported from 9/4 to 15/8 and won fairly comfortably. KEMPSEY had set the early pace and the time was quite decent but BENLLECH was always travelling well and picked up the lead in the final furlong. MUKTASB has won his last three including over CD and had gone up 16 lbs so it’s probably fair to say the handicapper has him for now.
Race three was a handicap for older horses over seven furlongs. I expected SUPER FRANK to blitz from the stall and try to make all but that didn’t happen as he missed the start. A number had chances turning for home including LANDUCCI and BAZROY but as SUPER FRANK tried to get into the race it was SAILOR KING who kept on best to score for the Ivory yard. Although the time was reasonable, this was a messy race and I’m not quite sure how the form will work out.
Race four was a handicap for older horses over a mile. CONFIDENTIALITY had looked unlucky at Wolverhampton yesterday but was still racing off 82, having started her winning sequence off a mark of 48. BERTIE SOUTHSTREET set the pace and one of the first beaten was favourite APACHE DAWN, who was very disappointing. Turning for home, none looked to be going better than CONFIDENTIALITY and as she switched to the rail, she looked sure to win but whether it was a combination of a second race in twenty four hours or a higher handicap mark, she flattened out and this allowed HIGHLAND HARVEST to quicken on and score from the fast-finishing NINTH HOUSE who is probably worth another try at ten furlongs. The winner is a CD performer but hadn’t looked in much form before his three-month layoff so a fine piece of training by David Elsworth. Connections of CONFIDENTIALITY can have little cause for complaint but perhaps she needs a rest now.
Race five was the afternoon’s feature; a Class 2 handicap over ten furlongs. An open market saw support for ALPES MARITIMES down to 9/4. The race was run at a generous pace and was hotly contested throughout. TARTAN TIE raced with the pace but was beaten on the home turn while a number still had every chance including LISATHEDADDY and SPEEDY SAM but in behind the pace both ALPES MARITIMES and SILVER PIVOTAL were waiting to pounce and it was the latter who showed a smart turn of foot in the final furlong to win a shade cosily. SGT SCHULTZ ran on late for third, which was a fine effort for a horse better known for his exploits at a mile and a half.
SPEEDY SAM and LISATHEDADDY followed the first three home acquitting themselves well. ALPES MARITIMES made the jump from Class 4 but couldn’t make the most of the weight concession from SILVER PIVOTAL. Nonetheless, he ran well and will win again though he’s not in the same class as the winner who put up a sparkling performance. SILVER PIVOTAL was having only his fifth race so there could be more improvement to come. As a 3-y-o, he won a Listed race at York’s May meeting and was beaten by Italian Girl at Ascot’s May meeting. He ran off 98 today and will doubtless be pushed up to 103+ so he enters the Winter Derby picture. It will be fascinating to see if connections being him back here for the Derby Trial race in four weeks time.
Race six was a handicap over a mile and a quarter. This race was run no less than four and a half seconds slower than the preceding event and became a sprint in the straight. MEDITATION and STARK CONTRAST led the field into the straight but could not hold off the market leaders. MR NAPOLEON had been backed from 5/4 to 11/10 but was well beaten by SRI KUANTAN who quickened impressively clear in the final furlong. He looks a fast-improving colt who can win again and I suspect another couple of furlongs won’t be a disadvantage.
Race seven was a maiden for older horses over a mile and a half. Although ostensibly a race for Flat maidens, it went to the Bumper winner OUTLANDISH, who made every yard and had too much speed and stamina for some pretty moderate opponents. APHRODISIA and FLIGHT DREAM were well held but MONDIAL JACK, probably best known as a chaser, ran on nicely for fourth. The winner was disappointing on his hurdles debut but may do better on a faster turf surface.
I am hoping to go to Kempton this afternoon. I have thoroughly enjoyed going to this track and I am going again tomorrrow to support Star Strider and Mr. Lambros. The owner also has Cow Girl running at Wolverhampton tomorrow, so with Gay Kelleway in such great form at the moment, it would be great if the owner has a nice treble up!
