Haydock stage is all set for Brando to deliver
THE STAGE is set for a Hollywood finale to the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock if Yorkshire challenger Brando can deny Harry Angel, one of the horses of the year, in a Group One sprint.
For, while Brando is owned by Pete Tingey, the proprietor of a Barnsley taxi firm, and his partner Angie Bailey, Harry Angel – the hot favourite – is owned by racing royalty in the form of Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed.
Yet the Yorkshire sprinter – named after American stage and screen star Marlon Brando – is more than entitled to take his place in the Haydock line-up tomorrow, 12 months after Karl Burke’s filly Quiet Reflection waltzed to a famous victory.
Like the Clive Cox-trained Harry Angel who heads to the Merseyside track following victory in the Group One July Cup at Newmarket when Brando was third, the Yorkshire sprinter subsequently put up a career-best performance on his last outing to land the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.
Trained at Hambleton by Kevin Ryan, and ridden by Tom Eaves, last year’s Ayr Gold Cup hero had so much in hand in this Group One that the aforementioned Cox has named Brando as the biggest threat to his charge.
This is music to the ears of Tingey, a bus driver’s son who owns Blue Line Taxis in Barnsley, and whose horses invariably honour the names of the leading names of showbusiness.
When Astaire ran in Royal Ascot’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes three years ago, he told
“I loved my upbringing. I loved my mum and dad. I love my brothers and sisters. We were from a poor family, but it’s not for me. I’ve worked hard. The business has been successful so I have been able to buy better horses.”
And he, and his partner, have not looked back since first meeting Ryan 20 years ago when he was a journeyman jockey. They’re now mainstays of his North Yorkshire yard and relishing the rematch with Harry Angel in the Sprint Cup, part of the Qipco British Champions Series.
“Brando apparently ran the last three furlongs of the July Course in the fastest time since records began,” said Tingey as he discussed the July Cup race.
“Tom did right thing in following Caravaggio, who was red hot going into the race, but in hindsight if we’d been following something else we might have got closer to Harry Angel.
“It’s not going to be easy and Harry Angel is the one to beat, but I think they will be as worried about Brando as we are are about Harry Angel.”
Tingey, whose firm owns a fleet of about 240 taxis in Barnsley, purchased Brando at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up sales for about £120,000 three years ago and since then he has thrived – winning seven of his past 13 races and accumulating £578,000 in prize money.
“I think his win at Deauville last time was probably his best performance yet,” added the proud Yorkshireman. “There are not many Group Ones where you see a jockey able to take a tug on a horse a furlong and a half out.
“That to me reflects just how well he is at present and if Kevin can turn him out in the same sort of shape, which I’m sure he will, then we’ve got to have a serious chance.”
As well as Harry Angel who is taking jockey Adam Kirby’s career to new heights, James Fanshawe’s The Tin Man and the William Haggas-trained Tasleet, the first two home in Royal Ascot’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes, renew rivalry while Malton’s Richard Fahey saddles Growl, Kimberella, Mr Lupton and Queen Kindly.
Cefall and Swaheen, who were both touched off in a tight photo finish to the 2016 Calverts Carpets Hambleton Cup, will both return to Thirsk to renew their rivalry on Ladies Day tomorrow.
Twelve months ago, Icefall made a gallant attempt to make all the running only to be touched off by a head by Tamayuz Magic with Swaheen a further head away in third.
“He ran a great race last year and I think he will run very well again,” said Icefall’s trainer Tim Easterby.
“He was wrong in his coat in the early part of the year, but has been in good form for some time and I have been desperate to run him, but there hasn’t been a race for him.
The only recent one before the Hambleton Cup was at Hamilton and the ground was too heavy for him.”
One trainer who is hoping to see Icefall attempt to run them all off their feet again is Julie Camacho, who saddles Swaheen, now 5lbs better off with his rival for that head defeat.
“He is in really good nick, although a little rain would definitely help as he likes to get some dig into the ground,” she said.
Novice chaser My Renaissance recorded his sixth win at Sedgefield yesterday. Running in the colours of Panther Racing, the horse trained at Guiseley by Samantha England and was ridden by her husband Jonathan. RICHARD FAHEY broke new ground when landing a first victory in the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes – the six-furlong sprint for juveniles at the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
Tomorrow, he saddles no less than a third of the field of 12 in the Group One Haydock Sprint Cup, a race that neither the yard nor I have ever won.
Yours truly takes the reins on Queen Kindly, a daughter of Frankel and victor in the Sky Bet Lowther at York last season.
Then – depending on declarations this morning – Don’t Touch could go for the Betfred Supports York Against Cancer Garrowby Stakes at York’s Family Raceday, a £50,000 Listed six-furlong contest, another race in which the yard hopes to break its duck.
Queen Kindly is taking her excellent York form over the Pennines as she returns to Group One company for the first time since the QIPCO 1000 Guineas.
It was hard for me to get off Musley Bank’s Kimberella for the Haydock sprint as he is one of my favourite horses, but I chose the mount who I think has the best chance.
Paul Mulrennan is in the saddle on Kimberella, while the yard is also represented by Mr Lupton, a York handicap winner from 2016, and Growl.
Yorkshire’s chance of claiming victory is enhanced by Kevin Ryan’s Ayr Gold Cup winner, Brando.
Though I am writing before declarations for Sunday at York are made, Richard Fahey is set to send a strong squad which is no surprise as we seek our share of the £132,000 record prize-money, on offer for the fixture.
As well as the Listed Betfredsponsored Garrowby Stakes at 3pm, racing under rules starts at 1.55pm with a contest that will be especially poignant for both crowd and participants as it is an apprentice race that remembers Tom O’Ryan, a much-missed figure in Yorkshire racing.
As well as being the voice of the parade ring at York and racing correspondent for the
Tom was a widely respected mentor to young riders, including myself.
Also a shout out goes to Freddie Gingell, aged just 11, who partners Wee Antony in the first of two Pony Races on Knavesmire, a big day for him and the other 16 young riders.
While the runners for York on Sunday will not be known until this morning, the fields for Newcastle this afternoon are already confirmed.
After two firsts and three seconds, Indomeneo probably offers me my best chance, in the 3.25pm nursery handicap.
Chief Justice, who I think was inconvenienced by a cross-noseband when refusing to race in the Group Three Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York last month, should have a chance to atone in the opener at 1.40pm.
Then it is Haydock followed by the unique atmosphere of York on a Sunday; thoroughbreds, Pony Races, Pony Rides, My Little Pony and a certain bear called Paddington; it promises to be fun.
Children are admitted free of charge at York on Sunday, to book adult admissions from £10 see www.yorkracecourse. co.uk.