Ayr Poet brings up sweet treble for Jim
Goldie strikes rich vein of form at Monday meet
Jim Goldie saddled a treble at Ayr on Monday and then cast his thoughts a few weeks into the future as he revealed the target for stable star Euchen Glen is the Jordan Electrics Doonside Cup at the Ayr Gold Cup Festival in September.
The seven year-old is the apple of his trainer’s eye and returned this season after almost two years on the sidelines with a tendon injury.
He ran fifth in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup last month before finishing in the same placing in Saturday’s Ebor at York - a run that delighter Jim.
He said : “The ground was a bit easier than he would have liked at York so all things considered it was an excellent run.
“The target is now the Doonside Cup Listed race at Ayr on September 15.”
Euchen Glen runs in the yellow and blue colours of his owner-breeder William Johnstone and it was these very silks carried by Sean Kirrane on Ayr Poet, 100-30, that gave Jim the third leg of his Monday treble in the Ayrshire Cancer Support Hope & Memories Walk Apprentice Handicap.
The son of Poet’s Voice was winning for the first time after a series of second places and is almost certain to go in again as he raced here off a lowly mark of 46.
Goldie’s other winners came with Firlinfeu, 6-1, in the Scotty Brand Handicap with Kirrane riding and One Last Hug, 4-1, in the Ayrshire Cancer Support Home 4 Cancer Campaign Classified Stakes for jockey Kevin Stott.
Mike Smith continued his fine run of form saddling Black Friday, sent off at 11-1, to win the Microtech Odds On For IT Support Handicap under Paddy Mathers.
There was also a winner for Dumfriesshire-based Iain Jardine who was on the mark with 5-1 chance Equidae in division two of the Afternoon Tea At Western House Hotel Handicap over seven furlongs with Haddington born jockey Andrew Mullen in the plate.
Meanwhile there is still uncertainty as to whether there will be any sort of crowd at next month’s Gold Cup Festival.
With the situation unclear the Ayr executive took the decision on Monday to stop selling tickets and refund all admission tickets for the Festival including those for QTS Ayr Gold Cup Day.
A spokesman for the track said : “We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and if the situation becomes clearer within the required timeframe we will advise accordingly.
“With regards to Hospitality we are unsure whether we will be in a position to welcome our guests but will seek advice and clarification on protocols and guidelines we will be required to work within and contact those with bookings over the next few days.”