Win keeps hopes alive for Guineas
SON Of The Stars kept his Qipco 2000 Guineas hopes alive in winning at Chelmsford for Richard Hannon and Ryan Moore.
Having made a winning debut at Kempton, the three-year-old vindicated owner Ahmad Abdulla Al Shaikh’s decision to jet in for the race that closed the card as he successfully carried top-weight in the Paul Goodwin 50th At Charlie Lockram’s Bar Handicap.
Always to fore throughout the mile contest, the 8-13 favourite, despite looking about late on, kept to the task well to score by two lengths and maintain his unbeaten record off a mark of 81.
Hannon said: “I was very pleased. He was a bit gassy in places and he looked a bit inexperienced. Ryan gave him a smack and he just hung left a bit. He is a lovely horse and holds a bit of weight. That will bring him on. He has done a lot of work with our Guineas horses.
“Long term he may be one for the Britannia, but there is no need to rush him. The Guineas is a possibility.
“That is a massive step up in class, but he has done nothing wrong and has passed this test.”
Of his Guineas contenders, Hannon said: “Larchmont Lad has recently been sold to Cheveley Park. He worked this morning and will do another bit on Sunday. He will go to the Craven, Majeste will go to the Free Handicap.
“Barney Roy has been purchased by Godolphin. I am very pleased with him and the plan is to go to the Greenham (Newbury) before going for the Guineas.”
Transforming older horses into Group-race performers is something Sir Michael Stoute has excelled in throughout his career and Poet’s Word looks the latest to benefit from his magic touch following the Bet toteexacta At totesport. com Handicap.
Positioned just in behind the early pace, the well-supported 8-11 favourite hit the front inside the final furlong of the mile-and-aquarter prize before striding clear to collect by a length a half, initiating a double for Moore.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, said: “He won like we expected him to win over a mile and a quarter, but I think he is probably a mile-and-a-half horse.
“He is a good-looking horse and has done well over the winter. He has got that turn of foot to win over a mile and a quarter, but he will be better over a mile and a half.
“Something like the Huxley Stakes (at Chester) could be for him, but it will be up to Sir Michael Stoute.”
Regal Gait may not be in the same league as owner Paul Jacobs’ star sprinter Limato, but he is hoping his victory in the one-mile-six-furlong handicap is a sign of things to come on the football field over Bank Holiday weekend.
Jacobs said after the Harry Whittington-trained four-year-old had obliged as the 11-10 favourite: “For my sins I am a Plymouth Argyle fan and that is where the dark green silks come from. We need four points to get promoted to League One.”
He added of the winner: “He had four runs over hurdles in the winter. He will have a spring break now and we will bring him back in the summer to run on the Flat.”