A review of the rest of Saturday afternoon's meeting at Newmarket.
Fairy proves a different gear
Fairy Cross set up a tilt at black type races after putting her previous experience to good use when proving a class above her rivals to initiate a quick double for jockey William Buick the It’s Racing Staff Week Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Newmarket.
The daughter of Dubawi might have a way to go to match the exploits of dual Group One winner Inspiral, who claimed the race 12 months ago, but the Charlie Appleby-trained two year old looked a bright prospect on her first start over seven furlongs.
Sent straight into the lead the Evens Favourite, who finished fifth on her debut at the Rowley Mile behind subsequent Albany Stakes runner-up Mawj, gradually wound matters up from the front before defeating debutant Divina Grace by four and a quarter lengths.
Appleby, speaking away from the track, said: “I was pleased with that. She ran an okay race on her first start which was won by a nice filly (Mawj).
“We certainly came forward for that run and she needed a little bit of time between her first and second run but she has done it well today. She could do no more than beat what was in front of her.
“William (Buick) was pleased with her. Potentially we will look at some black type races now with her and I feel she is a filly that should pick up some black type before the season is out.”
Joint trainer Harry Charlton celebrated a winner on a swift visit to the July Course before dashing off to a nearby wedding after Ashky completed Buick’s brace when opening her account by two and a quarter lengths in the Time Test Fillies’ Handicap (1m).
Charlton, who trains the 15/8 Favourite with his father Roger, said, “She ran well at the Craven meeting when she finished third behind one of Roger Varian’s (Ameynah).
“We then went to Nottingham, where it was one of those 15-runner maidens and a rush to get around the bend.
“She ran at Lingfield the other day which is a tight turning track which was not for her.
“We didn’t really know where she was with her mark but she had run in better races than this and the main thing that has helped her today is this more galloping track.
“William said they still went a bit steady as what she wants is a fast-run mile.”
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Pogo bounces to Criterion win
Jockey Kieran Shoemark described Pogo as an “incredible horse” after he tenaciously gave weight away all round in “terrier like” fashion to secure a second a Group race victory in succession in the House Of Cavani Menswear Criterion Stakes.
Having opened his pattern race account last time out in the Group Three Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock Park, the Charlie Hills-trained six year old defied a penalty for that success when striking gold at the same level in the seven-furlong feature.
Bounced straight out into the lead by Shoemark the 18/5 chance dictated matters out in front before he was joined approaching the final furlong by Sunray Major, who finished fourth behind him at Haydock Park last time out.
What promised to be an entertaining battle to the line was soon over in a matter of strides with Pogo quickly asserting again before surviving a stewards’ inquiry to claim victory by two lengths.
Shoemark said: “I think Sunray Major might just have headed me but he is a terrier like horse and he loves a scrap and went away again at the line.
“He is really lovely horse. He probably lacks that ability at Group One and Group Two level but his demeanour and attitude makes up for it. He has been an incredible horse to me. I’m just delighted.
“I thought Sunray Major was going to be a hard horse to beat as he was always getting there at Haydock Park as I thought I kind of stole the race around the bend that day and he might have just nicked it but he has proven today that was no fluke.
“He is a yard favourite and he has taken me around a little bit. We went to Saudi Arabia and we went to Dubai and Bahrain as well so we had a fun time over the winter. He just seems to be blossoming. He is a proper seven-furlong horse.”
A trip to the Qatar Goodwood Festival is now likely to be on the agenda for Pogo with a tilt at the Group Two World Pool Lennox Stakes, which he was trimmed into 7/1 for by Paddy Power, his next target according to Lambourn handler Hills.
Speaking away from the track Hills said: “That was really good. He has been a star. He had a penalty to carry but the track suits him really well and once he hit the rising ground, he was gone.
“It looked like Sunray Major might pass him but he is tough and he loves his racing. He has got a big heart and it looks like he is improving a bit.
“There was not much on for him and with a dry forecast it made sense to come here. I think we will probably go for the Lennox Stakes next at Goodwood.”
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsRebel hits the target in Fred Archer
Rebel’s Romance made an instant impact on his switch to the turf when returning to something close to his best with victory in the House Of Cavani Menswear Fred Archer Stakes handing jockey William Buick a 17.7/1 treble in the process.
Not sighted since finishing down the field in a Listed contest at Meydan 134 days ago, the giant-framed Dubawi gelding bounced back to form in style when leading home a one-two for trainer Charlie Appleby at the same level in the mile and a half prize.
Having looked a shadow of the horse that struck gold in last year’s Group Two UAE Derby in both of his starts this season, the 9/4 Favourite looked a different proposition on this occasion when joining stablemate Kemari and Stowell during the closing stages.
Once called on for his maximum effort Rebel’s Romance quickly responded, drawing clear inside the final furlong before passing the post with three and three quarter lengths to spare over Kemari.
Following the race Rebel’s Romance was trimmed from 50/1 into 33/1 for the Breeders’ Cup Classic by Paddy Power.
Buick said: “Charlie felt he was the right horse for me to ride out of the two. He lost his form this winter in Dubai on dirt but don’t forget as a three year old he was a five-length UAE Derby winner, but that was all on dirt and the turf is very different.
“He trains on turf at home and he has been here before and had a spin on this track and went well. I don’t think anyone was really that worried about him running on turf as the ground is nice and fast and it suited him. It was a real nice good staying performance.
“I thought he looked magnificent in the paddock and he was pleasing everyone at home. It was lovely to see him back as a four year old like that.
“We went pretty slow. I didn’t really know what to expect from him in regards to how he would pick up, as when he was running as a three year old he was a closer on the dirt.
“I thought today he was instant and once he went passed he stayed on and knuckled down well.”