Doncaster St Leger Meeting Roundup
On day two, Big Evs stole the show with a devastating win in the Carslberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes. Michael Appleby's Blue Point colt pinged the lids like a greyhound, taking two lengths out of the field and it was already game over. Big Evs unsurprisingly clocked the quickest first furlong, but interestingly didn't come out on top again in any other furlongs, mirroring just how important that quick start was. Tom Marquand took the race by the scruff of the neck and used his mounts stride to perfection in the soft ground, with no one laying a glove on the Windsor Castle/Molecomb winner. With his early gate speed complimented by his natural ability to quicken, a trip to Santa Anita beckons for the likeable two-year old.
Before that, Roger Teal may have unearthed a smart one in Dancing Gemini, who obliterated a promising field just shy of five lengths in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes. Credit to connections for sticking with Lewis Edmunds, who won on him at Newbury prior, as they could easily have opted for a 'bigger' name to take the saddle. Speaking to ITV, Edmunds was very complimentary about the Camelot colt after the race saying "He was a bit of an armchair ride for me really...he relished the ground and the extra furlong (Vertem Futurity) should suit". It's always a positive sign when it takes a while to pull a horse up, which may be a sign that Dancing Gemini could be a star in the making for the Teal team.
Onto the stayers now and the loveable Trueshan gained redemption for his neck defeat to Coltrane in this contest last season. The Alan King trained gelding was given a wind-operation after his disappointing 4th in the Sagaro Stakes in May, and duly improved for it beating the Ebor 2nd Sweet William just over a length. Hollie Doyle fought with Trueshan for majority of the race, unable to get him settled, and eventually gave him his head four furlongs out and took up the running. Some suggested the ride was actually a poor one, and the horse dug Hollie out of trouble, but it was a move that proved to be a winning one as Trueshan looked far more comfortable with free rein, and Hollie was able to drive him home well. Coltrane disappointed there, but Oisin Murphy eased him in the final furlong haven't felt something was clearly amiss, perhaps running flat from his Lonsdale Cup success 21 days prior.
The aptly named Legendary Day provided his connections with one his name suggests, recording a career best performance in the Mallard Handicap. Apprentice jockey Mark Winn's 3lbs claim proved a valuable acquisition as the gelding beat Ian Williams' Oneforthegutter by a short-head. Oisin Murphy seemingly did to much on the front end on the well backed favourite The Goat, and the strong travelling Legendary Day was able to sit ominously in behind the leaders, before Mark Winn timed his challenge to absolute perfection. Real Dream's backers may have felt hard done by, as he didn't break well and was on the backfoot from the outset, but can certainly be applauded for carrying 10"2 and finishing as close as he did.
Bubble(y)burst for Rosallion in Champagne Stakes
The market moves told the story in the Group Two Champagne Stakes on Saturday. Rosallion was the 2/5 favourite on Friday, but was sent off 4/5 while the well backed Iberian took the contest under Tom Marquand for Charlie Hills. Rosallion was unbeaten in two starts going into the race, with the form of his four length success in the Pat Eddery Stakes last time out working well, seemingly suggesting he was untouchable. 'Untouchable' is a dangerous term in racing however, as we all know nothing is guaranteed in our sport, and favourite backers were certainly made aware of that. Take nothing away from the winning performance however, as Iberian had shown plenty of promise prior finishing 2nd to Haatem in the G2 Vintage Stakes last time out. David Menuisier's Sunway bounced back from his disappointing performance behind Rosallion last time out, but the soft ground clearly brought out his ability and the full brother to Champion Stakes winner Sealiway looks a nice prospect for middle distances next season.
After that, Annaf finally broke his maiden tag on turf at the 13th attempt when taking the ever competitive Portland handicap off top weight. The King's Stand 3rd was an eye-catcher in the G1 Sprint Cup last time out and was clearly well handicapped off a mark of 106, but it was somewhat surprising to see him take up the entry here so quickly after Haydock, but connections clearly felt he had the ability to reward them with their faith.
Spycatcher was another bust for favourite backers, who didn't see out the seven furlongs in the Park Stakes after his staying on 2nd in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in Deauville last time out over 6 1/2F. Instead it was the 2021 Albany winner who took the plaudits in her 2nd time visor for Andrew Balding, who stayed on strongly and bounced back to winning ways for the first time since her Lennox Stakes last season. The Spycatcher team will be scratching their heads now as this looked like a nice stepping stone before going on to the Sprint Stakes on Champions Day, though it might just be that he was flattered the last day over in France.
Liberty Lane provide the Burke team with somewhat of a solace, as Sonny Liston couldn't quite deliver a knockout blow to end the card on Saturday, despite trading at 1/500 in running. Instead it was Burke's unexposed three year old, who proved suited by the mile on soft ground and bounced back to that promise he showed on debut when beating the now 91 rated Mr Busted by four lengths. The front pair drew nicely clear there, and are both ones to keep an eye on in top handicaps this season, though I'd suggest Burke's has more potential given his unexposed nature, and particularly how well he settled this time around.
Scu back for more?
Although the racing lacked in quality on Sunday, racegoers were treated to a rare spectacle in the Leger Legends race, where the likes of Davy Russell, Dicky Johnson and Robbie Power all returned to the saddle for a brilliant cause, raising money for the injured jockeys foundation. The newly retired Paul Hanagan somewhat had race fitness on his side, but he could only finish 2nd to Tom Scudamore on I Still Have Faith. The National Hunt legend was somewhat forced into retirement in February after a string of falls, though was thrilled to sign off 'properly' with a win, riding as if he was still very much in the game. Jamie Osborne had the chance to put his Racing League debacle behind him with a win on Cliffs Of Capri, but the trainer could only manage 4th.
Just over half an hour later we saw 1000 Guineas 3rd Matilda Picotte take the G3 Sceptre Fillies Stakes in effortless style under Oisin Murphy, with last years 1000 Guineas winner Cachet only managing 3rd for George Boughey after her long layoff.
Performance of the meeting
It was hard not to be impressed by Mick Appleby's Big Evs. Very rarely do you see a 5F race won after a furlong out, but the way Big Evs pinged the lids and kicked early on smacked of the suggestion that Tom Marquand knew he was on a sure thing. The two year old Blue Point colt had plenty to prove after his Nunthorpe run, but it was clear that he struggled against his elders there and was far more superior back against his own age. The Breeders' Cup will surely be on the agenda next, but hopefully we see Big Evs back for more next season.
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