Atzeni is up to his usual Shenanigans in Ayr’s first Flat feature
Shenanigans was the star performer at Tennent’s Raceday, Ayr’s first Flat meeting of 2019 when she won the Listed Race on the card – the £50,000 Tennent’s Lager British Stallion Studs EBF Rothesay Stakes.
The Roger Varian trained five-year-old mare, sent off the 11-10 favourite, travelled well throughout and hit the front two out and won readily by a length and a quarter from Exhort.
Andrea Atzeni rode Shenanigans and kept up his 100 per cent record at the track having won this race on his only other visit two years ago with Nezwaah, who went on to win a Group 1 at the Curragh.
Whether Shenanigans reaches these heights remains to be seen but she delighted one of her owners yesterday who was there to see her.
Ann Black said: “It’s great to win a Listed race and get black type. She did it well and we are delighted.”
Keith Dalgleish continued an amazing run of form with a double on the card courtesy of first Universal Gleam, 11-10 favourite, in the Orchard Pig Handicap over a mile with Danny Tudhope riding. That was followed up by Maul esden May (3-1), the mount of Graham Lee, in the 1m 2f Tennent’s Story Handicap.
The 6f maiden was a hot contest with the winner Lord Of The Lodge (4-1) looking use - ful on his first outing for trainer Karl Burke and jockey Ben Curtis.
At San down today, Regal Reality can take a step up in trip in his stride when he contests the Matchbook Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.
The four-year- old has only been tried up to a mile so far and actually lined up on this same card last year, finishing down the field in the Heron Stakes.
He bounced back from that defeat to win a Group Three heat at Good wood, before finding Here Comes When too good on very testing ground at Haydock and having to settle for third behind subsequent Group One winner Mustashry on his final start of 2018.
The current campaign did not get off to the best of starts as he claimed third over a mile at San down but plenty conspired against him that day, including a slow start, a steady pace and a lost shoe.
He shaped as though a step up to 10 furlongs could bring about a bit of progression on that occasion, and his pedigree certainly suggests that, too.
Sir Michael St out eh as 10 wins in this Group Three heat to his name, and the condi - ti on soft he race put Regal Reality in prime position to notch up an 11th.
Dee Ex Bee looked as though he might be the one to trouble Stradivarius for the stayers’ crown, judged on his return at Ascot earlier this month.
He impressed with his Sagaro success, overcoming a midrace flat spot to stride clear in the final couple of furlongs and triumph by just over three lengths in style.
Dee Ex Bee is hard to side against in the Matchbook VIP Henry II Stakes on that basis.
His fellow Mark Johnston inmate Dark Vision can also take some cash back to Midd le ham via the Match book Low Commission Exchange Her on Stakes. He was outclassed in the 2000 Guineas, but remains of interest back at Listed level.