Royal Countess was a touch of class
Galston trainer Mike Smith proved his stable’s runners are back on form when saddling another winner at Ayr on Monday- his third success in 15 days, writes Iain Ferguson.
The upturn in fortunes for the yard is remarkable as before Glasses Up win at the track on June 22 Mike had gone almost a year without a winner.
But how things have changed and Royal Countess hacked up at odds of 12-1 in the Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap under a confident ride from Paddy Mathers. He produced the four year-old filly top lead two furlongs out and the further they went the further clear she went with Paddy winning by four lengths from Queen Mia, the 9-4 favourite.
I spoke with Mike before the race and he admitted he thought Royal Countess would run a big race as she would like the soft ground.
Afterwards he was ecstatic and said : “That was special. Paddy gave her a great ride and she loved the ground and quickened away when asked. She was winning for the first time in 11 starts but there should be more to come. We’ve been working hard and the horses are hitting form. I got four from Lucy when she quit training –Granite City Doc who has already won for me, that filly today, Black Friday and Royal Duchess. I have a full yard and I’m looking forward to the coming months.”
Incidentally Glasses Up was thwarted by Pour Me A Drink in the CPMS Handicap Stakes. The Keith Dalgleish runner sent off at 11-2 was given a text book ride from the front by Joe Fanning and when the pack came to him inside the final furlong he kicked on to cross the line two and a quarter lengths clear of Mike’s gallant runner-up.
Joe also rode March Law to win the most exciting race of the day – the two runner EBF Stallions Novice Stakes. The colt had run second in the Chesham at Royal Ascot and was a 2-9 shot in this but only held off Summa Peta, another Keith Dalgleish runner, by a short head. Both these juveniles look very capable sorts.
There was also a double for jockey Kevin Stott whose successes came on Seven Brothers, 100-30 in the EBF Maiden Stakes and Star Citizen sent off at 22-1 in the QTS Investors in Young People Handicap.
Big Les was an impressive winner coming from near last to first to capture the feature race of the day the Jordan Electrics Handicap.
There’s a double header of racing action at Ayr next week with an eight race card on Monday with the first race at 12.05pm and on Tuesday evening the action starts at 4.40pm.
Both meetings are behind closed doors.
Paddy gave her a great ride and she loved the ground and quickened away. There should be more to come.”