Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Gosdens kickstart new era
HAQEEQY can give John and Thady Gosden a flying start to their dual-licence arrangement by winning today’s Unibet Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.
Father and son have a tremendous chance of taking the feature on the opening day of the turf season with an unexposed four-year-old, who could be ahead of the handicapper and perhaps even a Group horse in waiting.
Gosden (below) struck with a similar type in Expresso Star, who had just six races before taking the spring honours on Town Moor in 2009 and then graduating to Pattern company.
Haqeeqy has raced just five times – but unlike Expresso Star, already has a victory at Doncaster under his belt.
That came on his final run of 2020 when he overcame a slow start to win by a length and a half from Cold Front over seven furlongs. The son of Lope De Vega was going away in the closing stages to suggest the straight mile should not be an issue.
He had been well-beaten on his first attempt at this distance on his previous start – but in his defence he was bumped over two furlongs from home, leaving connections none the wiser.
Gelded since his last run, Haqeeqy will be stronger and is definitely worth another chance at a mile.
Montatham can prove he is more than a smart handicapper by landing the Listed spoils in the Unibet Doncaster Mile.
Summerghand may make his fitness count, after three runs on the all-weather recently, to claim in the Cammidge Trophy for a first Patternrace success.