Euro Nightmare sparks a dream day at Ayr for Morrison
Stuart Morrison has owned some fantastic race horses over the years but the retired Glasgow lawyer described yesterday at Ayr as one of the best days of his life as his filly Euro Nightmare won the third running of the Tennent’s British Stallion Studs EBF Rothesay Stakes.
Given a canny ride from Paul Mulrenn an, the Keith Dalgleish- trained horse crept into the £50,000 Listed race before hitting the front on the outside and pulled clear to win by a length and a quarter from Snowy Winter at odds of 6- 1.
Stuart, who 30 minutes earlier had seen Tanasoq, a horse in which he owns a half share with Frank Brady, win the fivefurlong Guinness Handicap, said : “I couldn’t believe that. I was hoping for second or third place at best so to win came as a shock.
“With Tanasoq also winning it’ s given me one of my best ever days in racing.”
Stuart owned Bijoud’ In de who won the 1996 St James’ Place Stake at Royal Ascot and Quick Ransom who won the 1992 Ebor at York.
Other winners yesterday included Pudding Chare, who won the concluding apprentice handicap in the hands of A nd rewBresl in for trainer Mike Smith at massive odds of 50- 1.
Two time champion jockey Paul Hanagan was on target with More Than This ( 11- 4) in the six- furlong novice stakes for trainer Richard Fahey.
At San down this evening, Weekender can take another step up the ladder by winning the Group Three Matchbook VIP Henry II Stakes.
The John Gosd en-trained colt has shown progressive form throughout his career and looked set for a fine campaign when he won on his seasonal re appearance at Chelmsford.
He may only have won a five-runner event, but did it in effortless fashion from the front to beat the useful Higher Power by two and a half lengths.
As that was only Weekender’s seventh start, it is fair to say the best could still be to come from the four- year- old son of Frankel.
Weekender is stepping up in trip as well as grade, but it would be unwise to underestimate him.
Gosd en can also land the Match book Is Commission Free Her on Stakes with the highly- promising colt Without Parole.
Also by Frankel, the three - year-old has won both his novice race sin great style by six lengths.
He was in contention for the 2000 Guineas until being ruled out with a slight setback. The St James’s Palace Stakes remains a big target and he can book his ticket to Royal Ascot.
Poet’ s Word, who chased home the Gosd en-trained superstar Cracks man by seven length sin the Champion Stakes, has much less on his plate in the Matchbook Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Sir Michael Stoute’s five- year- old finished six thin the Hong Kong Cup after that effort and was a good third in the Dubai She em a Classic at Meydan in March.
Wedding Date, meanwhile, can continue the remarkable record of the Hannon stable in the Matchbook Commission Free On All Sports National Stakes.