Syndicate raises a glass to Nonios
BARGAIN-BUY Nonios carried out a well-devised plan to perfection when giving his connections another reason to raise a celebratory glass or two with victory in the feature race at Chelmsford yesterday.
Picked up for just 2,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Mixed Sale in 2015, the David Simcock-trained six-year-old backed up his win at the track last week when getting up almost on the line in the totequadpot Races 3 to 6 Handicap, denying Greatest Journey by a nose.
Andy Howells, racing manager to the Millingbrook Racing syndicate, said of the 7-2 winner, who was picking up a first prize of £29,111: “This has been on the radar for a couple of months and we only raced here last week because there were not many horses in the race.
“There are 10 shares with 14 people involved, three are from Wakefield and the rest from the Forest of Dean. All of us from the Forest of Dean got a minibus today, so everyone could have a drink and enjoy the day and winning the race makes the day even better.
“It’s David Simcock’s choice where he wants to go with him next. Wherever he sends him we will turn up.”
James Doyle will be hoping his victory aboard the Charlie Applebytrained Espadrille in the toteexacta Pick The 1st And 2nd Fillies’ Novice Stakes is a sign of things to come when he teams up with the Newmarket handler in Dubai on Saturday.
He said of the 4-5 favourite: “I was pleased with her. She didn’t do much wrong last year. She is bred to get this sort of trip, if not a little bit further in time, as her dam (High Heeled) was third in an Oaks. She is very straightforward.
On his Dubai rides, he added: “Jungle Cat would have a big chance (Al Quoz Sprint). Blue Point is the one to beat, but Jungle Cat will run well.”
Conrad Allen enjoyed a victory he never thought would come as Sonnet Rose (7-2) provided him with his first winner at the Essex-track when ending a run of near-misses in the toteswinger Two In The First Three Handicap.
Allen said: “I didn’t think I’d ever have a winner here. We’ve had a few unlucky losers. We just hung on to her for a bit longer today as we had been setting it up and getting caught.”
Having overseen leading Dubai Sheema Classic contender Poet’s Word land the big race at the track 12 months ago, Bruce Raymond was on hand to watch the Andrew Baldingtrained Luna Eclipse collect the totetrifecta Pick The 1,2,3 Handicap by half a length.
Raymond, who is racing manager to winning owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, said of the 15-8 chance: “He looked the part before the race and Andrew said he had improved a lot at home.
“I thought the top one (Tanseeq) had to give him a lot of weight, which was a tough thing to do.”
David Bridgwater ended his lean spell when supplying his daughter Poppy with her first winner of 2018 courtesy of Zephyros (7-1) in the toteplacepot Races 1 to 6 Apprentice Handicap.
The Stow-on-the-Wold handler said: “We had a good start to the jump season then they just went off and I don’t particularly know why. Hopefully we can have a good summer.
“It’s brilliant whether it is my daughter or the other young lad in the yard riding them. I love giving them a chance.”