Unkindest cut is no bar to Ranger
FOREST RANGER made a rapid transition from colt to gelding before pulling off a surprise 8-1 win in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.
The four-year-old was listed in the racecard as a colt – an administrative error by the Richard Fahey stable which had forgotten to inform the authorities about the horse’s recent gelding operation.
A pre-race inspection by the racecourse vet had revealed that all was not what it seemed with Forest Ranger.
Fahey will now have to use some of the £34,000 win prize money to pay the inevitable fine for failing to declare his horse’s change of circumstances. Showing no ill effects from the op, Forest Ranger battled on strongly to outstay the heavily-backed favourite Deauville.
It was a big winner for Tony Hamilton, who got the better of a ding-dong final furlong battle with Deauville.
The latter represented the powerful Aidan O’Brien yard and was ridden by Ryan Moore.
But Hamilton’s mount stayed on the stronger in the closing stages to prevail by half a length from the 6-4 market leader.
Frankuus, ridden by Frankie Dettori, took the field along for much of the way, with Deauville and Forest Ranger always his closest pursuers.
When Frankuus wilted Deauville and Forest Ranger moved up to dispute the lead with Robin Of Navan briefly threatening to get involved.
In the end, though, it turned into a straight duel and it was Forest Ranger who won the battle Three prize.
Godolphin’s Soliloquy turned in a striking performance under William Buick to win the other Group Three race on the card, the Nell Gwynn Stakes.
She was given quotes around the 14-1 mark for the 1,000 Guineas, but needs to be supplemented if she is to take her place in the Classic here on May 6. for the Group