Judicial decides it’s time to be real star
JUDICIAL may be getting on in terms of a sprinter but Julie Camacho’s eight-yearold appears to have found a new lease of life over six furlongs, having run out a ready winner of the Betfair Backs Racing Welfare Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle.
Having been a reliable type just below the highest class for a number of years, all Judicial’s best form was over five furlongs.
It was not until he landed a Listed race over that trip at Lingfield in November that connections began to think it may be the time to go up in distance.
And he looked noticeably happier over six furlongs yesterday, with jockey Callum Rodriguez the last off the bridle en route to a 9-1 victory in a race run in torrential rain.
It soon became apparent the favourite Mubakker would not be winning, leaving Judicial to see off the Kevin Ryan pair of Brando and Major Jumbo to provide Rodriguez with a first Group-race success.
At Newmarket, two popular pensioners – Limato and Henry Candy – showed they are not ready for retirement just yet.
Limato, a sprightly eight-old-year, became only the second horse to make it back-to-back wins in the Criterion Stakes much to the delight of Candy, 76, the gelding’s trainer.
Candy said: “I’ve never had a horse that’s stayed at the level he has for so long and I don’t think many others have either.
“He’s very special. I always get a lot of messages asking when he’s going to run – he’s got a big following.”
Winning jockey Adam Kirby, along with his colleagues, will no longer resemble a bank robber as the compulsory face mask no longer applies while riding in a race.
GUTSY: Judicial and Callum Rodriguez