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Ian Heitman with all the latest on the road to Lingfield on Good Friday
Ian Heitman reports on halfway stage in the championship
The 2018/19 All-Weather Championships have reached the halfway stage with 12 of the 24 Fast Track Qualifiers having taken place. Final’s Day at Lingfield Park on April 19 however seems a long way off especially as this year the prestigious Flat meetings, the Greenham at Newbury and Craven at Newmarket will take place before the culmination of the current all-weather season due to Easter being later this year.
The race to be leading all-weather jockey looks set to be a three-way affair with Adam Kirby currently leading the way in his quest to be top jockey for the third time. Robert Havlin is hot on his tail, however, while reigning champion, Luke Morris, won’t give up his crown easily and, after a relatively slow start, is starting to fire in the winners.
THREE-YEAR-OLD
The third horse to book a place in the Final was NO NONSENSE who won the latest qualifier at Kempton on January 4 and became the second horse from the David Elsworth yard to be guaranteed a place on Final’s Day, Master The World secured his spot in the Middle-Distance Final in November. The outsider of the field of seven, No Nonsense had the widest stall to overcome and was restrained leaving the stalls by Liam Keniry so as not to be wide into the first bend that is quickly upon the runners over the 6f trip at Kempton. There was a strong pace set by CHARMING KID and DEEP INTRIGUE with the rest of the field happy to let the pair take each other on. Charming Kid was still in front entering the final furlong, but he was headed by JAMES STREET with 100 yards to go but he couldn’t hold off the strong finish on the outside of the field by No Nonsense who grabbed the lead close to the finish to win by a short head with only three and threequarter lengths covering the field. Favourite, YOU NEVER CAN TELL, never managed to get involved after a slow start and whilst he wasn’t beaten far, he was unable to challenge.
No Nonsense is a big horse who is progressing very well and despite the shorter straight at Lingfield maybe not being ideal, he will be a danger to all of his rivals in the Final.
One of his opponents in the Final should be the first Fast Track Qualifier winner, CONCIERGE, who landed a big prize in Qatar on December 21 when he led in the last strides beating the former Archie Watson trained Luchador by a short head. Don Armado, who was two and a quarter lengths fourth behind No Nonsense, finished fifth in this race, beaten over seven lengths.
SHINING ARMOR, who had been beaten a neck in the second of qualifiers by Deputise, was another visitor to the Middle East, racing at Meydan in Dubai on January 10 in a strong 7f conditions turf race. He ran well from the front but had nothing left inside the last furlong and a half, finishing fifth behind Charlie Appleby’s GOOD FORTUNE with David Simcock’s WOVEN keeping on well to be second with another UK raider, TROLIUS staying on to be third for Simon Crisford.
The race to be leading jockey looks set to be a three-way affair with Adam Kirby currently leading the way from robert havlin and luke mrris
SPRINT
KACHY, second in the Sprint Final in 2018, had his first start of the 18/19 season at Wolverhampton on December 26 in a conditions race over 6f. With a BHA rating of 110, he had plenty in hand of his five rivals, his main market rival was due to be Intisaab, but he was withdrawn at the start (he did run very well when narrowly beaten in Dubai on January 10). Kachy was away quickly from the stalls and was soon in control, drawing clear in the straight to be win by six lengths from GULLIVER lowering Pretend’s 2014 course record by 0.40 seconds setting a new best time of 1.11.44. Whilst he might have had too much to beat, he had been off the track for 145 days prior to this run and showed he will be the one to beat in the Final on Good Friday at a course where his record is two wins and a second from three starts.
Gulliver had his next start in another 6f conditions race, at Kempton on January 9, where he was 11/1 in a field of five. CENOTAPH representing Jeremy Noseda was the 8/11 favourite to give Ryan Moore his first winner of the year. CORINTHIA KNIGHT, who had flopped when carrying top weight at Wolverhampton on his previous start was second favourite with a big move on KEYSTROKE who was supported from 10/1 to 11/2 on his first start for 342 days and his first run for Stuart Williams having previously been with Noseda.
The final member of the quintet, Danzan (third behind Kachy) was allowed an easy lead and was in front until headed by Gulliver over a furlong from the finish. Cenotaph travelled well on the outside of the field and looked as if he had his rivals covered but he didn’t pick up as expected (Moore not overly hard on him inside the last furlong). Keystroke, who was having his first start over 6f despite this being his 17th start, travelled strongly in the rear for PJ McDonald and made good progress with a furlong and a half to go, taking the lead with 150 yards to go and holding off Cenotaph to win by a short head. Gulliver wasn’t knocked about by Adam Kirby when he was headed, finishing a length and three quarters behind the winner, with Danzan a fair fourth. Corinthia Knight disappointed for the second consecutive race, never managing to land a blow finishing last of the five. It could be that he saves his best for Lingfield where his record is three wins from four starts.
Keystroke was winning his fourth allweather race from 10 starts and whilst he has yet to win at Lingfield (only had two runs there), he will be thereabouts in the Final. Cenotaph did little wrong and will be winning again before too long, with a return to Chelmsford
where he is unbeaten an option.
TROPICS might have just turned 11 but he showed he retains plenty of ability at Chelmsford on January 3, winning a 5f 0-105 handicap by three quarters of a length from ROYAL BIRTH. Always going well close to the pace set by VERNE CASTLE, Tropics took the lead over a furlong from the finish and only had to be pushed out to win his fourth race from six starts at Chelmsford.
Daniel Kubler believes OUTRAGE can develop into a contender for the Sprint Final following his most recent success at Newcastle over 5f on January 8 where he was well on top inside the last furlong, beating Foolaad by three quarters of a length. He was rated 90 for this race and will need to find at least 15lb worth of improvement to beat the likes of Kachy and Keystroke in the Final.
MILE
The second of the Fast Track Qualifiers took place at Dundalk on January 11. Seven horses lined up with THEOBOLD the well supported 8/13 favourite ahead of 2016 Mile Final winner CAPTAIN JOY at 11/2. There weren’t too many concerns for favourite backers as Theobald raced close to the pace and was in front a furlong and a half from the finish and only had to be pushed out by Kevin Manning to record a length and a quarter success ahead of Captain Joy who kept on well but was no match for the winner and was subsequently retired.
Theobald took his all-weather record to three wins from five starts and whilst he is guaranteed a place in the Mile Final line-up, he will need to find improvement to take the big prize on Good Friday. Should he take his chance at Lingfield, he would be Jim Bolger’s first runner at the track in recent years.
ARCANADA had been fancied to win the 2018 Mile Final but trailed home last of the 11 runners, got his 2018/19 campaign off to a winning start at Lingfield on December 31, leading all the way, he won unchallenged by three lengths from Chevallier. Despite his excellent allweather record Arcanada wasn’t sent off favourite, BREATHLESS TIMES who was stepping up to a mile for the first time was the 11/8 market leader to give Jason Watson his first winner for his new boss Roger Charlton. He failed to figure, under pressure with three furlongs to go and never getting involved, trailing home last of the six runners. He had the pedigree to stay a mile and it will be interesting if Roger Charlton gives him another chance over a mile.
As for Arcanada, he won’t always be allowed such as easy lead as he was here and will need a couple more runs to get qualified for the Final.
SALATEEN had never won over a mile prior to a conditions race win at Lingfield on January 5. He was given a good ride by Martin Harley who took the lead with three furlongs to go, kicked clear turning into the straight and having two lengths in hand over STRAIGHT RIGHT who was poorly placed in the rear by Rob Hornby and was out of his ground when the pace increased, doing well to get as close as he did. There is a good race to be won with Straight Right and given he was unlucky not to be closer to Flaming Spear in the first of the qualifiers at Kempton, could easily go close in the Final granted a better ride than the one he got at Lingfield.
Despite having a couple of fancied horses beaten at Lingfield in the first two races on January 11, that didn’t stop punters from lumping on Richard Spencer’s third runner on the card, KEYSER SOZE in the 0-105 7f handicap. Supported from 7/4 to 4/5 favourite and ridden for the first time by leading all-weather jockey Adam Kirby, Keyzer Soze was held up in the rear and weaved through the field in the straight, taking the lead off pacesetting AREEN HEART (fifth behind Arcanada on his previous start) with 75 yards to go and won comfortably by a length. Keyzer Soze has won both his starts at Lingfield, both over 7f and will be aimed at the Mile Final where he will have to find further improvement to win.
APEX KING gave his jockey Laura Coughlan her biggest success to date when he won a 0-105 handicap at Lingfield the following day, comfortably holding off the challenge of hat-trick seeking BREDEN by a length. He had been declared to run against Keyzer Soze but was taken out of that race presumably as his trainer David Loughnane thought this was one was more winnable. Apex King was winning his first race since a Listed race win in 2016 and should be able to follow up next time.
MATTERHORN made his first racecourse appearance at Pontefract in early October but has gone on to win
APEX KING gave his jockey Laura Coughlan her biggest success to date when he won at Lingfield
four of his six starts and is currently the joint winning most horse on the all-weather this season with Deeds Not Words. He has been extremely versatile winning at three difference racecourses and over a mile and a mile and a quarter and has seen his official rating rise to 99. He led all the way over a mile and a quarter for his latest success at Lingfield on January 5 beating Mythical Madness easily by a length and three quarters. He will face stronger opposition in his first start in Class 2 company, but is progressing extremely well and will continue to run well.
MIDDLE DISTANCE
It’s not very often horses rated 117 or above race on the all-weather, just 10 since 2010 including Enable and Crystal Ocean who ran in the September Stakes last year, so it was no surprise to see Cambridgeshire winner WISSAHICKON (raised 10lb for that win to 117) go off a very warm 2/5 favourite for the Listed Quebec Stakes at Lingfield on December 22. He benefitted from BIG COUNTRY running wide into the straight, taking the lead with a
furlong to go winning by two and a quarter lengths from Big Country who was giving the winner 5lb. The Group 3 Winter Derby on February 23 is the next intended run for Wissahickon who should be hard to beat. As for Big Country, he should go close in the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield on February 2.
SCARLET DRAGON, third the Quebec Stakes, faced COURT HOUSE in a match over a mile and a half at Lingfield on January 9 but found that one too strong as Court House led all the way under Robert Havlin winning by four and a half lengths.
Two days earlier at Wolverhampton, HATHAL gained reward for a couple of placed runs with an easy win over the extended nine furlongs in another small field conditions race, just six taking part this time. He wasn’t extended to beat GORING, who will be better served dropping back to a mile, by two and three-quarter lengths. Hathal would be a leading contender for either the Mile or Middle Distance Final whichever race his trainer Jamie Osborne chooses to run him in.
Charlie Fellowes believes CHIEFOFCHIEFS can progress into a Winter Derby candidate following his win over a mile at Kempton on January 4 when he got up close home to beat Family Fortunes by a neck. He will have to improve to beat the likes of Big Country in his next race, the Winter Derby Trial, with the shorter straight at Lingfield maybe not playing to his strengths, he took a long time to get on top at Kempton.
FILLIES & MARES
The second of the Fast Track Qualifiers was a competitive 7f conditions race at Wolverhampton on January 2. There was an open look to the betting with 11/4 joint favourites, CROSSING THE LINE and ISLAND OF LIFE both having won their previous starts at Chelmsford and Kempton respectively. Crossing The Line set off in front but was pestered for the lead throughout by MISS BAR BEACH, the pair going off too quickly and fading in the final furlong and a half. Island Of Life was given a patient ride by Richard Kingscote and she made up ground from the rear with a couple of furlongs to go, taking the lead with 150 yards to go, beating CASTLE HILL CASSIE by three quarters of a length to land a hat-trick of wins on the all-weather. Whilst Island Of Life will head to the Final as one of the leading contenders, her trainer William Haggas has had mixed fortunes in the race, short priced favourites were beaten in the 2016 and 2017 Final’s but he was successful in 2018 with 7/2 favourite Diagnostic.
GHAZAWAAT gained her first win for John Gosden when she easily beat three rivals at Lingfield on December 22 and would be one of the leading contenders for the Final as her jockey on this occasion Robert Havlin believed she would be better in a stronger race which she would almost certainly get in the Final.
MARATHON
Four of the runners who were behind Stargazer in the first of the Fast Track Qualifiers at Newcastle in December, lined up for the second qualifier at Wolverhampton on January 14. The market couldn’t split FESTIVAL OF AGES, second to Stargazer, and AIRCRAFT CARRIER, the impressive winner of races at Wolverhampton and Chelmsford, the pair going off 7/4 joint favourites with WATERSMEET, winner of this race in 2018, at 7/2. Watersmeet took the lead with six furlongs to go and looked to have his rivals in trouble with three furlongs to go but Festival Of Ages responded to Adam Kirby’s urging and made progress on the outside to challenge as they turned into the straight, whilst Aircraft Carrier benefitted from that pair running a little wide into the straight. Festival Of Ages took the lead with a furlong and a half left to go but he couldn’t hold off Aircraft Carrier who stayed on strongly to take the lead as they entered the last furlong and he held on well to win by threequarters of a length from Festival Of Ages who ran well again with Watersmeet staying on at the same pace inside the last furlong to be third.
Aircraft Carrier should confirm the places with Festival Of Ages in the
Final, he seems to have a better finishing kick and he deserves to be favourite for that race.
AMADE put himself in contention for the Marathon Final with an easy win in handicap company at Kempton on January 5, going to the front with a couple of furlongs to go having been held up and winning unchallenged by two and a quarter lengths from CASTLELYONS with ZUBAYR running well to be third having been hampered at the top of the straight. Amade was a rare runner in the UK for Giuseppe Botti, the fifth since 2011 and the second winner. Amade has an excellent all-weather record in France, four wins from five starts and while he will have to improve a few pounds to win, it would be dangerous to underestimate his chances.
Alan King has a useful all-weather team assembled this season with Cos- meapolitan, Caspar The Cub and REDICEAN all successful. Redicean was impressive at Lingfield on December 22, drawing clear in the straight to win a mile and a half 0-105 handicap by four and half lengths from Seafarer. Redicean has the option of going back over hurdles but he would be an interesting contender for the Marathon is allowed to take his chance.
MAIDENS/NOVICE
The one standout performance in recent weeks came from SET PIECE who defied a penalty impressively at Newcastle on January 8, pushed clear inside the last furlong by Luke Morris to beat SPARKLE IN HIS EYE, a newcomer from the William Haggas yard, by three lengths. Set Piece will be aimed at a valuable race back at Newcastle on Good Friday before embarking on a turf campaign.
CREATIONIST was a 33/1 shot when third behind Set Piece at Kempton when they both made their debuts in December. Only 5/1 for his second start, also at Kempton, on January 9, he got off the mark narrowly from ENCHANTING MAN and WHITE COAT, two short heads separating the trio with a nine-length gap to the fourth horse.
There was a big market move for Sir Mark Prescott’s YVETTE who had been available at 66/1 the night before the race but was backed in to 6/1 on the off. She made up ground late on from the rear but never got too involved, finishing eighth, 14 lengths behind the winner.
She should do better next time as too should the Ralph Beckett trained DOBRIANKA who finished one place in front, she has plenty of scope and will almost certainly improve for this debut effort.