A review of the action from Saturday's meeting at Newmarket where Summerghand won the Close Brothers Hopeful Stakes.
Harley hails Hopeful hero Summerghand
Martin Harley hailed Summerghand as a “proper tough horse” after the veteran sprinter got his career back on track when going one better than 12 months ago in the Close Brothers Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket’s July Course.
Without a victory since claiming Group Three honours in the Abernant Stakes on the Rowley Mile at the Craven Meeting in April, the David O’Meara-trained seven year old returned to winning ways with a decisive victory in the Listed feature race.
Arriving on the back of down the field efforts in the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, over course and distance here in the Darley July Cup and in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, the gelded son of Lope De Vega appeared to have something to prove on recent form figures.
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The six furlong contest looked to be heading the way of 2019 Stewards’ Cup hero Khaadem, who looked to have plenty of his rivals in trouble out in front, but as his effort petered out Summerghand burst through under jockey Harley inside the final furlong before pulling away to score by two and a half lengths.
Harley said of his 16/1 winner: “This is more of his grade these days. He ran in the July Cup and when they quicken away he gets a bit disheartened. Today they went quick and when he started to pass one or two tiring horses he really got his momentum up and finished strong.
“I was a bit worried about the ground as it was kicking up out there but as the pace was so strong early and a few horses started coming back to him he really came into his own during the last furlong and a half.
“He is a tough horse and in Listed and Group Threes he is very competitive, but when he goes in Group Twos and Group Ones he is taking on a different sort of horse. He is a proper tough horse.
“David (O’Meara, trainer) has done a fantastic job keeping the horse fresh and sweet. He was a winner on the Rowley Mile winning that Group Three in April.
“Fair play to David and I’m thankful for the ride. David rang me up and said do whatever you think is right. I didn’t want to drop him out today and I said ‘let’s keep him in midfield’ and the rest is history.”
Ryan thinks big with Manaccan
Meanwhile John Ryan believes Manaccan has the potential to hit the same heights as his former Group Two winner Silver Grecian after setting up a tilt against pattern race opposition with a stylish success in the Close Brothers Savings British EBF Novice Stakes.
Having bettered his debut fourth at Ayr when finishing third last time out at Yarmouth, the Exceed And Excel colt took another significant step forward when running out a wide margin winner of the six furlong prize under William Buick.
Always travelling well, the even money favourite quickly put matters to bed once sent on by Buick before crossing the line four and a half lengths clear of debutant Wajd, teeing up an outing in the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on September 18th.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsNewmarket trainer Ryan said: “When we first got him we thought he was nice and he ran a great race first time up at Ayr where we gave him a prep to see if he was good enough to go to Royal Ascot and he wasn’t quite ready so we eased off him.
“We went to what was still a hot race at Yarmouth but he scoped a bit dirty after that. Luckily for me Graham (Smith-Bernal, owner) is very patient with his horses and we said we would just take a pull as there was always a bigger picture.
“You have to prove yourself worthy to get there but I think today he has probably done that. Coming in from the breeze-ups he was a little bit lively and he is a horse we had to do a bit of work with but he has gone the right way.
“We are in the Mill Reef and we will definitely look at that now. He is ground dependent and wouldn’t want it too soft. He would be the best I’ve had since Silver Grecian (2009 Superlative Stakes winner) and I think he is on that level.”
Wall relief as Baque strikes
Chris Wall breathed a sigh of relief after saddling his first winner on the July Course this season thanks to the victory of Baque D’Or in the Close Brothers Invoice Finance Handicap.
The Belardo colt took a step up to a mile and a half in his stride on his first start since the beginning of June when getting the better of Saligo Bay by two and three quarter lengths much to the delight of the Newmarket handler.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsWall said of the 3/1 chance: “We were in danger of not having a winner on the July Course this season and we normally have at least one. We have had a couple of seconds but just not the winner.
“It was just the way the race was run that got him beat at Doncaster last time and he had ringworm badly after that so we had to give him time to recover from that.
“He really appreciated the step up to a mile and a half today. Hopefully he can go on and have a productive autumn now.”
Cook looks to future
It has been four years since owner John Cook celebrated Breton Rock’s final Group Two success in the 2017 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood, but Indigo Times could give him plenty to look forward to judging by the manner of his victory in the Close Brothers Asset Management Handicap.
Without a win on his four previous attempts on the turf the David Simcock-trained four year old finally added to his six all-weather victories when prevailing by a length and a quarter in the mile six prize under Hayley Turner.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsCook said: “At last he has done it on turf and he has really showed his true form today. We had our doubts but they are horses at the end of the day and they can make fools of you.
“It has definitely taken us by surprise and we only ran him here because it was on our doorstep.
“At Ascot a couple of weeks ago it was too soft but it looks like we haven’t just got an all-weather horse now. “It has been a long time since we have had a good one and hopefully he can go in again.”
July Course first for Menzies
Secretinthepark (7/1) continued his recent revival at the age of 11 to give trainer Rebecca Menzies her first winner at the track when backing up his last time out success at Thirsk by half a length in the concluding Close Brothers Handicap.
Menzies said: “He is thriving and we are very lucky to have been sent him by the owner. It is nice to have a good sprinter like him in the yard. He is a lovely old horse and he retains so much enthusiasm.
“We will probably freshen him up now and go to Ayr for the Bronze Cup and he is now also qualified for the final of the Jockey Club Sprint Series so we have a couple of options for him.”
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsCandy hopes Freedom on a roll
Henry Candy hopes Run To Freedom can now finally begin to fulfil his potential after lowering the colours of the hat-trick seeking The Attorney by half a length to get his campaign up and running in the Close Brothers Asset Finance Handicap.
Candy said of the 4/1 winner: “He has been a bit disappointing as he has got huge ability.
“I thought after he beat Highland Avenue at Kempton last year he would have headed off to Royal Ascot this season but he had a few niggly health issues during the spring.
“That was the last thing he needed as he doesn’t want to be idle. Dane (O’Neill) thinks he will get a mile. He is a great big frame of a thing. Hopefully with racing and time he will improve.”
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