On the Rails
Maleficent Queen is top quality
The winning machine that is Irish trainer Adrian Keatley summed up his love for Ayr Racecourse on Monday after he saddled Millefiori for his seventh win at the track from 11 runners this season.
A beaming Adrian, who only 24 hours earlier had landed his biggest ever winner when Jet Setting won the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh, said: “Ayr is one of my favourite tracks and I’ll be coming here as long as I’m still standing – it’s just a great course for my horses.”
Millefiori also won on the course last Wednesday when landing the apprentice handicap at odds of 4- 1 for young jockey Robbie Dolan.
That was the third leg of a treble for Keatley on the day after Nice Vintage ( 3- 1 favourite) won the one mile two furlong CCE Enterprises Handicap by three and a quarter lengths from Grand Canyon and Anonymous Lady, 3- 1 joint favourite got up on the line to win the five furlong Jacks On Fire Handicap from Classy Anne. Both horses were ridden by Kieren Fallon.
I can tell you last Wednesday was an extremely profitable afternoon for the Keatley camp and they were whisked off in a private plane from Prestwick counting their winnings.
On Monday, Millefiori’s odds were The inaugural running of the British Stallion Studs EBF Tennent’s Rothesay Stakes at Ayr last Wednesday was certainly worthy of its Listed status and produced a high quality winner.
I hope anyone who read this column as the paper hit the streets early last Wednesday afternoon took the hint and backed the Keith Dalgleish trained Maleficent Queen, the 3- 1 favourite and one I just couldn’t see getting beaten.
The four- year - old filly went into the race having won four of her five starts including a handicap at the Craigie track last September on the opening day of the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival.
The race unfolded perfectly. Taking a keen hold in the hands of Phil Makin, Maleficent Queen made smooth headway two furlongs out and took the lead approaching the final furlong and comfortably held her nearest pursuers More Mischief and Namroodah to win by two and three quarter lengths.
Dalgleish said :” As soon as this race was announced I had it in mind for her. She won here last September and obviously likes the track and she won well again today.
“I’ll speak to the owner and we may go for a group race next and might put her up in trip to a mile and a half.”