A brace for Gibbs
Welsh jockey Bradley Gibbs pulls off an impressive double, while one winner benefits from a whole year off
THE South Wales season opener proved successful for jockey Bradley Gibbs who, despite the testing conditions, pulled off an impressive brace, taking his season total to eight.
Colorado Doc kicked off Bradley’s double when landing the confined. The seven-year-old by Dr Massini made all apart from a slight drop in pace up the back hill on the second circuit, but found a second wind on the final straight and pulled clear to win by a distance from Bob The Butcher.
The gelding, owned and
trained by David Brace, was making it up to connections after getting loose in the parade ring and being withdrawn before his race at Chaddesley Corbett the week before.
“He won that easily enough,” mused David. “Last week [at Chaddesley Corbett] wasn’t the best preparation — he saw the gate back to the lorries and just went, but he ran brilliantly today and showed what he is able to do.”
Bradley’s double was completed when Beverley Thomas’ Moral Hazard took the mixed open by four lengths from Pink Eyed Pedro under Connor Brace.
Always lying handy in a tightly packed field, Moral Hazard and Pink Eyed Pedro took it up together three out and raced to the line, but it was Moral Hazard who held on to win by four lengths.
“He went on three out and that put the race to bed,” said Bradley Gibbs of the nine-year-old gelding by Milan. “He was going so fast, he just galloped through the ground.”
“I’m so surprised,” said astounded owner and trainer Beverley, who has owned Moral Hazard for three seasons.
“This is a step up for him, so to come out and win is amazing. He’s the only horse
I have and I ride him and do him myself which makes it such fun.”
FIGHTING FOR THE LINE
A YEAR off is paying dividends for eight-year-old gelding Champione who held on in a close finish to head the restricted under Nick Williams for The Egerton, Chandler & Harris Partnership. Always lying handy, Champione and Double You Be (Ed Bailey) took it up on the final straight and raced home in a fight for the line, but Champione found more to win by a length.
The gelding by Tikkanen is trained by Jonathan Tudor.
“He ran well at Chaddesley over Christmas, but he needs a bit of time between his races, and probably wants better ground,” said Jonathan, who bought the horse 18 months ago and turned him away for a year before starting him again.
“He’ll go for an intermediate
next,” Jonathan added. “He’s super at home and my 16-year-old boy Jack does all the work with him. Jack will start race-riding in May and he wants to ride Champione first.”