ALL WEATHER
Ian Heitman previews the races on Good Friday’s Finals Day
The All-Weather Championships Finals Day takes place at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, April 2nd, with six championship races and an apprentice handicap. Like most fixtures in the last 12 months, prize money is down on what it normally would be, £500,000 over the seven races compared to £1 million when Finals Day was last held in 2019. The most valuable of the seven races being the Middle Distance race carrying a prize fund of £100,000.
Richard Kingscote looks set to be crowned champion all-weather jockey for the first time, while Mick Appleby will be leading trainer for the fourth successive year. Godolphin will be leading owners for the seventh year running. There are also prizes for the champion apprentice and winningmost horse and they were too close to call at the time of writing.
The first race on Finals Day is an apprentice handicap over 7f for jockeys who have yet to ride 50 winners. That rules out current leader in apprentice standings, Marco Ghiani and George Rooke who currently sit in joint-fifth. This race is a chance for up and coming jockeys to shine on the biggest day of the all-weather calendar and there has been a number of promising apprentices riding on the all-weather over the winter. Mark Crehan seems to have benefitted from moving from Richard Hannon’s yard to George Boughey earlier in the year, riding eight winners for his new stable since early February. Benoit De La Sayette is John Gosden’s first apprentice jockey for many years and has attracted plenty of interest since he rode his first winner for the yard in January and has ridden three winners from seven rides for the yard so far in 2021. Laura Pearson, who currently sits in second place, who missed part of March to protect her claim for the turf season, will surely be in demand for one of the leading contenders for this race.
While on the subject of apprentices, Darragh Keenan rode out his claim at Newcastle on March 5th, achieving the magic number of 95 winners as part of a double for Dave Evans who supplied him with 12 of his winners.
The runners in the six championship races have to have raced at least three times during the all-weather season in either Great Britain, Ireland or France or twice on the all-weather and once on the dirt at Meydan racecourse in Dubai, or they will have had to have won one of the four Fast Track Qualifier races that have been run during the all-weather season.
Marathon
The first of the Championship races is over two miles and it should be a good one with most of the runners having met throughout the season. Island Brave was a surprise winner of the first Fast Track Qualifier at Newcastle in December, having Australis, Rainbow Dreamer, Carnwennan and Mildenberger behind him.
Rainbow Dreamer and Mildenberger fought out the finish in the second qualifier at Wolverhampton in January, Mildenberger a head in front with four and a half lengths to Nate The Great in third. Mildenberger had his next start in Saudi Arabia in a valuable handicap finishing sixth. He has an entry in a two mile race on Dubai World Cup night but would have a leading chance in the Marathon final should Mark Johnston decide to run him in this race.
The third qualifier at Kempton in early February was one of the slowest races to be run on the all-weather all winter. Rainbow Dreamer was allowed to set a very steady pace and kicked for home turning into the straight, having enough in hand to beat Ocean Wind by three-quarters of a length.
Hollie Doyle was on board Rainbow Dreamer at Kempton, but she might be claimed to ride Amtiyaz for her retained owner Imad Alsagar. Amtiyaz had been successful at Kempton a few days before Rainbow Dreamer and while his rating of 94 leaves him plenty to find with Mildenberger, rated 111, and Rainbow Dreamer, rated 110, he is a progressive stayer.
The last of the qualifiers held at Chelmsford on March 13th was reduced to three when 2019
Marathon final winner, Watersmeet was taken out of the race by Mark Johnston. Rock Eagle was sent off the 8/11 favourite ahead of Lucky Deal and Ranch Hand who was allowed an easy lead with Rock Eagle racing close to the pace and Lucky Deal held up. All three had a chance of winning turning into the straight. Ranch Hand stayed on well to hold off Rock Eagle by a head with Lucky Deal a length and a half away in third. Ranch Hand’s trainer, Andrew Balding won the Marathon final in 2015 and Ranch Hand should run well in the final if he takes his chance. Rock Eagle’s trainer, Ralph Beckett, has also had a Marathon final winner, Moonrise Landing in 2016, and he too should run well given there will be stronger pace in the final.
Of the other possible contenders, Carnwennan had Island Brave back in fourth when he won a two-mile handicap at Newcastle on March 2nd. He was beaten 21 lengths by Mildenberger at Wolverhampton and seems to save his best for Newcastle. Australis beat Nate The Great at Wolverhampton at the beginning of the year and was raised 3lb to 97 and needs further improvement to win. Nate The Great was rewarded for a couple of consistent efforts at Wolverhampton in mid-February, just holding off the challenge of Who Dares Wins, he too needs to improve to win.
Fillies & Mares
This looks like being the weakest race on the card with uncertainty surrounding the participation of three of the four Fast Track Qualifier winners. Indie Angel, winner of the first in October, has been kept in training by owners Cheveley Park Stud presumably in search of a Group race win at some point during the turf season. She was impressive winning at Lingfield over a mile. Having been held up by Frankie Dettori, she made progress on the outside of the field to lead inside the last final furlong, beating Lavender’s Blue who didn’t get the clearest of runs in the straight. Ummalnar finished third that day but ran out an impressive winner of the second qualifier at Dundalk. She looks to have been retired to stud.
The winner of the third qualifier at Wolverhampton, Amniarix, is progressing really well. That was her third consecutive win, she beat Shimmering Dawn by two lengths that day in early January. Her trainer, Ed Walker, said she is more likely to run in the Listed Snowdrop Stakes at Kempton on April 5th in search of some valuable ‘black type’ which will enhance her value as a broodmare.
Shimmering Dawn’s next start came in the fourth qualifier at Chelmsford on February 18th. Sent off the 15/8 favourite, she was patiently ridden in the rear and made progress in the straight, finishing well to take the lead off pace-setting Amber Island inside the last 50 yards to win by three quarters of a length. She had her next start in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton on March 13th, the last of the Mile qualifiers, but never managed to get involved, trailing home seventh of nine. She will find the Fillies & Mares final easier.
The last two finals have gone to fillies with official ratings of 94 and while it is unlikely to be removed from the programme, it is the weakest of the six categories and a win for one of the three Fast Track Qualifier winners that remain in training (all are rated 98 or above) would give the category a much-needed boost.
Sprint
This should be one of the best races on the card with plenty of horses having a good chance of winning. Good Effort was impressive when he won the first Fast Track Qualifier over course and distance in mid-November taking his unbeaten record at Lingfield to three. He has been racing in Dubai this year and his most recent run, in a Group 3 dirt race was an excellent one. Going off in front, he was only caught in the last few strides beaten a neck. With the excellent prize money on offer in Dubai, he has the option of
running on World Cup night, but if he does bypass that and run in the Sprint final, he would be the one to beat.
Venturous won the second qualifier, over 5f at Newcastle in January. He finished fourth to Lord Riddiford on his next start at Wolverhampton but got back to winning ways at the Midlands track on his most recent start, a handicap over 6f, when he finished well from the rear of the field to collar Aberama Gold right on the line. Despite having had 14 all-weather runs, Venturous has yet to race at Lingfield and his hold up style of racing might not be suited to that track. Summerghand stayed on well to be third and he ran well again at Wolverhampton on March 13th, giving upwards of 7lb to his seven rivals. He stayed on but was no match for Streamline who was winning for the first time since September 2019.
Aberama Gold won over 6f at Lingfield in December on his first race at the track. He has finished fourth on both his runs at the track since, the most recent coming in the third qualifier, the Listed Kachy Stakes behind Exalted Angel who was well placed racing prominently and taking the lead close home from Fizzy Feet who was fourth behind Venturous at Wolverhampton.
Misty Grey finished third in that Lingfield Listed race, the first time in four starts he had been beaten since joining Tom Dascombe. The front two that day were first and second throughout and Misty Grey fared best of those who raced in midfield. He has more to offer in the Sprint final and should be one of the leading contenders.
Exalted Angel hadn’t raced over 6f or in Listed company prior to this win and he battled well to win. He has missed the break in the past but was well away from the stalls in this race and if he manages to break on terms and be up with the pace, he could run into the places.
The last of the four qualifiers was held at Chantilly and it was won impressively by Duhail who drew clear of his rivals inside the last furlong to win by four lengths. He has won both his starts on the all-weather and while he would have a leading chance in the Sprint final, City Light made the journey from France in 2018 to win the Sprint final, his trainer Andre Fabre is yet to have a runner on Finals Day, and he is more likely to be aimed at Group races in France later in the spring.
Lord Riddiford’s connections would probably prefer the sprint to be over 5f as he has won three of the five races he has completed so far over 5f during the current all-weather season (he was awkward leaving the stalls on his fourth start and unseated his jockey), winning his last two at Wolverhampton and Lingfield. The Lingfield win came in the Listed Hever Sprint
Stakes, the first time he had contested a Listed race. He took the lead off pace-setting Ornate inside the last furlong and held on to beat favourite Moss Gill by a neck. Ornate gave the form a boost with an all the way win at Lingfield on his next start, albeit in a very tight finish. Moss Gill is likely to have his next start in the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night and this will have put him spot on for that.
Lord Riddiford’s one and only race over 6f was in October 2018 and
given he can race a little keenly in the early part of his races, he might struggle inside the last furlong in the Sprint final.
Tranchee has won one of his three all-weather starts this season, the sole victory coming in a 6f conditions race at Kempton when he was a well backed 13/8 favourite. He was again strong in the market on his final run, a 7f handicap at Wolverhampton but was beaten a length and a half into second by Revolutionise. The return to 6f should suit and he could run well if he takes his chance.
Three-Year-Old
If the sprint is the best race on the card, this comes a close second as there have been some good races during the all-weather season and all four winners of the Fast Track Qualifier’s should take their chance in the final.
Significantly won the first qualifier on the first day of the 2020/21 season, at Newcastle on October 20th. He led all the way that day, beating Yazaman by three quarters of a length with Victory Heights in third.
Yazaman and Victory Heights met again in the second qualifier at Wolverhampton on December 5th and in a very tight finish Victory Heights beat Mighty Gurkha by a nose with Yazaman a neck away in third.
Mighty Gurkha, who gave 7lb to his rivals at Wolverhampton, went one place better in the third qualifier at Kempton on January 25th. He carried 5lb more than his four rivals on that occasion and set out to lead all the way under Hollie Doyle. He looked beaten when headed by Zamaani a furlong from the finish but responded well to Doyle’s riding and managed to regain the lead inside the last 50 yards.
The last of the four qualifiers was over 7f, the Listed Spring Cup at Lingfield on March 6th. Apollo One, who had finished third in Group 3 company last year, provided his trainer Peter Charalambous with a first Listed winner in recent years. Apollo One was held up in the early part of the race and made headway with three and half furlongs to go, taking the lead over two furlongs from the finish and just managing to hold on from Megallan who finished strongly to be second with favourite El Drama also running on to be third. Yazaman, who was second and third respectively in the first two qualifiers, never challenged finishing seventh.
Apollo One deserves his place in the Three-Year-Old final following this win and the drop to 6f should be in his favour and he ought to run well.
There was a very good 6f handicap at Lingfield on March 10th with two of the eight runners, favourite Diligent Harry and Popmaster going into the race having won their first two starts. Among the other runners were Significantly who was having his first race since the win at Newcastle in October, hat-trick seeking pair, Bedford Flyer and Secret Handsheikh, while Rohaan, fifth behind Mighty Gurkha at Kempton, had the assistance of three-time Champion Jockey Ryan Moore for the first time.
Secret Handsheikh and Bedford Flyer set a good pace (the winning time was the fifth fastest 6f race at Lingfield this season), Bedford Flyer in front two and a half furlong from the finish. He couldn’t hang on inside the last furlong, headed by Rohaan with 150 yards to go and it looked as if Rohaan would win by half a length, but Diligent Harry finished strongly and was a short head down at the line with Popmaster, who missed the break for the third consecutive race, also finishing well to be a neck away in third. The first three were the last three horses turning into the straight.
There are plenty of horses who could win this and the draw could be crucial as it’s not far to the first bend and a wide draw can be a disadvantage. Provided he get a low draw, Mighty Gurkha looks the one to beat with Diligent Harry and Popmaster capable of reaching the frame if they take their chance.
Middle Distance
This is the most valuable race of the day with £100,000 in prize money on offer. However with more valuable races at the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 27th, there are some horses who understandably will line-up in Dubai rather than Lingfield on Good Friday. The riches of the Middle East were enough to tempt Bangkok’s connections away from the Group 3 Winter Derby, the last of the four Fast Track Qualifiers, on February 27th, he instead ran in the world’s richest horse race, the Saudi Cup a week earlier with $20 million on offer. Despite finishing a never dangerous eighth, Bangkok earnt his connections over £291,000 compared to Forest Of Dean winning £30,811 for the Group 3 win.
Forest Of Dean was given a fine ride by Robert Havlin in the Winter Derby, chasing the steady pace set by Johnny Drama, he took the lead two and a half furlongs from the finish and stayed on well inside the last furlong, beating Felix, who finished strongly from the rear, by three quarters of a length with well supported favourite Father Of Jazz in third. Felix is due to race on World Cup night in the $4 million Dubai Turf.
Forest Of Dean was the second Fast Track Qualifier winner in the Middle Distance category for John Gosden
who also won the first with Dubai Warrior in the Listed Churchill Stakes in November. Dubai Warrior has been running in Dubai, once on the dirt and once on the turf, never managing to challenge on either occasion. A return to Lingfield’s all-weather surface could be just what Dubai Warrior needs and if the Gosden trained pair line-up it is quite easy to see them having the race between them inside the final furlong.
Sky Power won the second of the qualifiers, the Listed Prix Lyphard at Deauville in November, finishing well from the rear to lead close to the finish, denying Winter Reprise who had led for most of the way. A length and a quarter covered the first seven horses. Bugle Major finished third and he won easily on his next start, a conditions race in early January, beating Intellogent who won on his next start.
Hopefully there will be a couple of French raiders as they have a good record on Finals Day, five wins from 18 runners.
Other horses who have a rating high enough to run in the Middle Distance final are Assimilation who won a class 2 handicap at Kempton on March 3rd, finishing well to deny Lucky’s Dream close to the finish and providing his jockey, Joanna Mason with her biggest success to date. Palavecino has finished behind Dubai Warrior twice this season but would have place claims if a couple of the Fast Track Qualifier winners don’t line-up.
Mile
The winners of the first two qualifiers, Kinross and Bless Him have both been in action in Dubai since winning their qualifiers and while the races they have been running in have been much stronger than their all-weather wins, neither has managed to get too involved.
Kinross beat Khuzaam at Kempton and since then Khuzaam went close in a Listed race in France, beaten a neck by Kenway who was comfortably beaten by Wally in the third qualifier, the Listed Prix Saonois at Cagnes-SurMer. It would be a surprise if Wally made the journey from France given his trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget has only had one runner in the UK since 2018. Khuzaam booked his spot in the Mile final with a win a four-runner conditions race at Chelmsford on March 4th, beating the long-time leader Highland Dress by half a length. Khuzaam has finished first or second in his seven all-weather runs and he should be hard to beat in the final.
Highland Dress was the 3/1 favourite for the last of the four qualifiers, the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes over 7f on Wolverhampton’s most valuable race day of the year, March 13th. Well placed close to the pace set by Lord Of The Lodge, Highland Dress had every chance but was one paced a furlong from the finish, no danger to easy winner Mums Tipple, who was winning for the first time since a very impressive win at York as a two-year-old. Documenting stayed on from the rear to be fourth but never challenged, he will be one of the highest rated in the final and the extra furlong should suit him well.
Mums Tipple’s only previous start over a mile came in the 2000 Guineas when he was last of 15 but given the way he travelled close to the pace for Ryan Moore, on this evidence there is every chance he would stay the easy mile at Lingfield and if Richard Hannon opts to take up the free entry he should run well.
The Lincoln Trial hasn’t had too much bearing on the Lincoln at Doncaster in recent years, the only horse to win the Lincoln having finished in the first three in the trial was John Ferneley back in 2000. Five of the 13 runners in this year’s Lincoln Trial had an entry in the Lincoln on March 27th and it was one the five, Born To Be Alive who won in good style. Racing close to the pace, he made progress on the turn into the straight and led a furlong out, beating On A Session by half a length. Born To Be Alive would have had a good chance in the Mile final but his trainer Karl Burke said he will be aimed at the Lincoln for which is a 20/1 chance.
Khuzaam looks the one to beat in this final and Mums Tipple, now he had had a confidence boosting win shouldn’t be too fair away either.