The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Perth’s Autumn raceday feature claimed by Borders duo – page 42
Jockey’s first impressions are good after victory in feature race
Craig Nichol was all smiles after landing Perth’s Autumn Raceday feature race for Borders trainer Alistair Whillans on Cracking Destiny.
The Hawick partnership teamed up to take the spoils with the 7-1 chance who stormed home with nine and a half lengths to spare over Caius Marcius in the Keep Your Social Distance Handicap Chase.
Nichol said: “It’s the first time I’ve sat on him but I was well briefed by Callum Bewley who was second on him here last time. It didn’t go to plan that we were going to lead so far from home but he just kept going further and further clear so it all worked out pretty well.”
Ella Pickard was full of praise for Perth after Getaround, her first runner at the track, landed the Scottish Racing Novices’ Hurdle.
The North Devon handler said: “We came up yesterday and it took nearly all day to get here. But it was worth it as everyone has been really friendly and the hospitality has been brilliant.”
Sent off the 2-5 favourite, Getaround was also a first course winner for Bryan Carver and Pickard said: “The plan now is to go to Chepstow next month for the Persian War Hurdle which is a Grade 2 race. It’s a big step up but we think a lot of him.
“He has won twice on heavy ground but horses by his sire can often prefer it not so testing.”
● The Pride Stakes at Newmarket could be the next objective for Kirstenbosch after chasing home the brilliant Enable at Kempton on Saturday.
James Fanshawe’s filly was a 33-1 shot for the Group Three September Stakes, having finished fifth in the Upavon Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury last month on what was her first competitive appearance of 2020.
And while the daughter of Mount Nelson was predictably no match for John Gosden’s dual Arc heroine, Kirstenbosch delighted her connections as she narrowly beat the globetrotting Melbourne Cup contender Prince Of Arran to the runner-up spot.
Fan shaw es aid :“Poor old Kirstenbosch, she barely got a mention! Obviously all the attention was on Enable and nobody really noticed Kirstenbosch ran the race of her life to be second.”