MARQUAND MARCHES ON
Tom’s Ayr raid seals historic double
TOM MARQUAND became the first jockey in 101 years to win the QTS Ayr Gold Cup and the St Leger in the same season as 7-2 favourite Nahaarr swooped late to win yesterday.
A week earlier, the 21-year-old rider won the final British Classic of the year on Galileo Chrome at Doncaster and he completed the historic double last achieved in 1919 on William Haggas-trained Nahaarr.
One of racing’s hottest properties in the saddle, Marquand delivered the four-year-old with a withering late run to wear down 25-1 chance Spanish City by half a length, with Mr Lupton back in third.
‘It was an exceptional turn of foot,’ said Marquand, who recorded a treble on the day. ‘I bumped into some trouble at times but he has the perfect mix of speed and ability to go through the gaps.
Speaking from his home in Newmarket, Haggas added: ‘It’s been a good day. We had 15 seconds in about a week and six of those were beaten a short head, so we deserved a bit of luck and thankfully we’ve got it today.’
No crowds were permitted for Scotland’s biggest Flat racing meeting this week and it is estimated that racecourses north of the border have lost at least 40 per cent of all revenue because of the Covid crisis.
An attendance of more than 12,000 is normal at a sun-kissed Ayr, the racecourse that resumed racing in Scotland behind closed doors in June, but current restrictions prevented a crowd witnessing one of the biggest gambles in the race’s history.
However, there was some cheer for the home contingent when the sole Scots runner, 20-1 chance Soldier’s Minute, finished a close-up fourth for Carluke handler Keith Dalgleish.
The combination of Haggas and Marquand claimed the Listed Doonside Cup with Addeybb, while the Silver Cup was won by 18-1 outsider Magical Spirit.