A review of the action from Friday's meeting at Newmarket where Oisin Murphy rode a double.
Fairbanks stamps Ebor claims
Sent off the 15-8 favourite after heavy late support, Fairbanks held off Oneforthegutter by a length and three-quarters, with Bague d’Or back in third.
Murphy said: “With the blinkers instead of the visor, I wanted to lead but I only broke fairly and then I didn’t want to rush him up.
“It was a muddling tempo, he over-raced around the turn but when I moved into space and stopped fighting him, he relaxed really well and he was in cruise control.
“I didn’t want anything to crowd him, so I ensured he got rolling before the pack got to him, he picked up nicely before I needed to get serious, so he was going to take some catching.
“He needs to sneak in the Ebor and Andrew will have others with a similar profile, like Relentless Voyager, and if he doesn’t get in, the consolation race is a nice pot as well.”
The winner was cut to 10-1 from 20s for the Ebor by Paddy Power.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!
Super Saturday tips! July Cup at Newmarket and John Smiths Cup at York
Havana Grey filly no longer a maiden
Arabian Dusk came home best of all to shed her maiden tag at the third time of asking in the bet365-sponsored Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.
Although the daughter of Havana Grey had shaped with significant encouragement in finishing second on her Doncaster debut and third in the Listed Empress Stakes on her first two starts, she faced a rise in grade for this Group Two contest, with several fillies placed at Royal Ascot in opposition.
Impressive Carlisle winner Bountiful took the field along for much of the six-furlong contest, with Harry Davies not far behind aboard 12-1 shot Arabian Dusk as she sat on the tail of 15-8 favourite Heavens Gate, who had finished third behind stablemate Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes at Ascot.
As Bountiful’s early exertions began to take their toll late on, it was left to Arabian Dusk, Heavens Gate and the Albany fourth Mountain Breeze to fight out the finish, and Simon and Ed Crisford’s filly finished the strongest in the dying strides to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!
The Crisfords were completing a quick-fire double on the card following Involvement’s victory in the opening bet365 Handicap, which will undoubtedly give the team confidence ahead of stable star Vandeek’s bid for Group One glory in Saturday’s July Cup.
Of Arabian Dusk, Ed Crisford said: “On her first two runs she was very green, which she was entitled to be.
“We threw her into a Listed race on her second run and Sean (Levey) said she lost her position early just through greenness. That meant she was out the back and while she came with a good run, she just failed.
“It was quick ground that day and very hard to make ground on the leaders. Today we said to Harry to jump out and he gave her a beautiful ride, sat on Ryan’s (Moore) girths and she picked up really well coming up the hill to pull clear.
“It was a really pleasing effort, she’s an improving filly, a high-quality filly and she’s by a great stallion in Havana Grey, who is getting stronger and stronger. With Vandeek tomorrow, I hope we can have a Havana Grey double!
“I think she would stay further but for now we’ll probably stick to six. She’s not in the Prix Morny but there’s that or the Lowther.”
Champions Full Gallop - coming soon to ITV...
Davies, who won the Chester Cup earlier this year on Zoffee, was thrilled to claim another big-race victory – his first at Group-race level.
He said: “I’m delighted to get the opportunity off Simon and Ed, the whole team at Gainsborough have worked so hard with this filly to keep her right, we’ve always had a lot of faith in her and thought she would go on to better things.
“She was unlucky the last day, being shuffled a bit further back, but she ran on really nicely. There was a little bit more give in the ground today and we wondered if that would enhance her chances, so to beat the O’Brien filly, she must be good.
“There are good times ahead. It’s a big moment for me but I have to thank Simon and Ed for the opportunity and Shaikh Duaij (owner) for having the faith in me, I feel very honoured.”
The winner was introduced into the betting for next year’s 1000 Guineas by Paddy Power at 25-1.
Murphy on the scoreboard again
A step up in class awaits Involvement after he justified 100-30 favouritism with the minimum of fuss in the bet365 Handicap at Newmarket.
Not disgraced in the Britannia at Royal Ascot last time out, he relished the extra two furlongs under Oisin Murphy.
Usually won by a decent prospect, the way Involvement, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, moved through the gears before easing away from Royal Power to win by three-quarters of a length, suggests he is booked for bigger and better things.
Mr Monaco was another three-quarters away back in third, with Aidan O’Brien’s Chantilly disappointing.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!
Ed Crisford said: “He likes that ground, so Oisin just said maybe don’t run him on too quick a ground again, but certainly the step up in trip has brought about the improvement.
“He didn’t run a bad race at Ascot in the Britannia, when he was just in the middle group out the back. He made a good run and just couldn’t get there but he definitely showed that day he was ready to step up to 10 (furlongs).
“Today looked like a suitable option but you’ve always got to be a good horse to win this race and he galloped out really strongly.
“We’ll have to see what the handicapper does but I imagine that will be him out of handicap company now.”
Gosden juvenile impresses
John and Thady Gosden unleashed a promising two-year-old at Doncaster on Thursday when Chancellor came from an unpromising position to win going away and they have another on their hands in Field Of Gold (9-4 favourite).
Third on his debut at Doncaster behind two other nice types, he took a huge step forward under Kieran Shoemark to win the Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes by three and a quarter lengths.
John Gosden said: “I think we’ll look at stepping into a black type race next.
“Something like the Royal Lodge will come into it later and then the Futurity Trophy I would think. The horse that won yesterday is more for the six/seven furlong department, while this one will want further.”
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
Fast Results
Scores
