Newbury review | Inca Heights and Consecrated both impress

Cox juvenile impresses on debut

Inca Heights moved a step closer to following in the hoofprints of his sire when laying down an early Royal Ascot marker after hitting the ground running at Newbury on Friday.

The Clive Cox-trained two year old showed a resolute attitude to make a winning debut in the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup EBF Maiden Stakes.

Having raced just off the pace, which for much of the race was set by Vinciamo, the 17-2 chance forged on into a narrow lead late on in the five furlong dash.

Sticking to the task well the son of Nando Parrado held off the late advances of favourite Private Affair by a head.

Cox said: “I’m very pleased for Stephen (Barrow) and Julie (Deadman) as they have been long standing owners and to see this one win in the Reckless Abandon and Tis Marvellous colours is very special.

“I’m thrilled to bits for Nando Parrado, who has made a wonderful start to his first runners. This guy hasn’t been away from home to gallop or anything and we haven’t been on the grass for three or four weeks so I did manage expectations a little bit quietly.

“I’m thrilled to bits and we can look forward to more progress. I know he will take a big step forward and David (Probert) gave him a super ride.

“He popped him out of the stalls the other morning and he was great. He has a wonderful mind on him and he is a lovely moving horse so this is exciting."

Following the race, Cox hinted that he will now work back from the Royal meeting in June with Inca Heights, a meeting where his sire secured victory in the 2020 Coventry Stakes.

Cox said: “This weather will determine where we go and we will try to keep him as upwardly mobile as possible in the build up to Ascot from what I’ve seen and that will be the plan.

“He has got the speed there, but he galloped out so well so six furlongs will be no problem and knowing his dad well that will definitely be the case.

"On the dam’s side there is the scope to go further as well. Showing that class he has today is wonderful.”

Frankel filly rewards backers with professional performance

Consecrated set up a likely step up in class after leaving her rivals chasing her shadow in the Bridget “Confined” Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Despite having no form to go on, the William Haggas-trained three year old looked the consummate professional on her racecourse bow in the seven furlong affair.

Bounced out quickly by Cieren Fallon the daughter of Frankel held a prominent pitch throughout before turning on the afterburners late on.

And once hitting top stride the Cheveley Park Stud-owned filly quickly went through gears before crossing the line three lengths clear of runner-up Breckenbrough.

Maureen Haggas, wife and assistant trainer, said of the 5-2 winner: “She is a beautifully bred filly and you hope they will come out and do something like that so that was great.

“Cieren (Fallon) was sensible and let her bowl along. She hasn’t done a lot to be honest with you, but she goes nicely enough.

“We trained her mother (Sacre Caroline), and she was very good, and she is by Frankel so you don’t get much better than that.

“I think we got away with the ground today, but I don’t think it was ideal for her. Cieren couldn’t pull her up at the end so she will get further. We will probably step her up to a mile next time and see really.”

Afterwards, connections hinted that the Listed Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes, better known as the Michael Seely Memorial Fillies’ Stakes, at York on May 16th as a potential target for Consecrated.

Haggas added: “I would think she probably won’t run with a penalty and will run in a Listed race or something like that.

"This time of year you can run with a penalty and you don’t know what you are up against. Something like the Michael Seely at York could be for her.

“She still looks quite backward and she is long and skinny. She is not beautiful, but she has got an engine and that is what counts.

“I think she is one of those that will improve as the year goes on. She is quite immature looking and hopefully she will mature as time goes on.”

Balding team on the scoresheet with well-backed filly

Serenity Prayers threw her hat into the ring for an appearance at the Royal meeting after answering punters' wishes in the Dreweatts Maiden Fillies’ Stakes. 

Although lacking the experience of several of her rivals the Andrew Balding-trained daughter of Dubawi strode to victory in the manner of a filly with plenty more to offer. 

Those that backed in the Westerburg-owned filly to go off 2-1 joint-favourite had little to worry about throughout the mile and a quarter prize with Oisin Murphy holding a perfect pitch just in behind pacesetter Lady Ridgewood. 

After moving up alongside the early leader inside the final furlong Serenity Prayers quickly scampered clear before passing the post with a length and quarter to spare. 

Balding said: “It was a pleasing debut as we haven’t done a huge amount with her at home.

"We thought she would need the experience today, and the outing from a fitness point of view, so there is any amount of improvement there. 

“We didn’t put her in the Oaks, and if she was good enough, I think the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot would be her race. 

“We will see how she works and anything is possible. Those trials are there at the same time.

"If she comes out of this really well, and looks like she has improved, she might turn up in one of those.”

Derby dream alive for Burrows ace

Owen Burrows watched on with delight as Gethin kept his dreams of an outing in the Betfred Derby alive with a clear cut victory in a dramatic renewal of the Darley EBF Novice Stakes. 

Having made a big impression on his debut at Nottingham the son of Ghaiyyath followed that success up when proving a cut above his opponents in the mile and a quarter test. 

Travelling well throughout in the hands of Callum Rodriguez the 7-2 chance moved up alongside Saddadd to join favourite Falconer inside the final two furlongs. 

However, drama was to strike as Falconer appeared to suffer an injury on track leaving Gethin and Saddadd to battle it out during the closing stages. 

Despite the pair moving clear Gethin soon had things his own way out in front with Rodriguez steering his mount to glory by three and a half lengths. 

Burrows said: “He is still a big raw baby and I think he will be better again for getting that out of his system. 

“He was a bit fresh in the stable yard and he moved a shoe. He was a handful for the farrier to get that back on. 

“He is a work in progress, but you can’t be anything but impressed by him with the way he travelled through. 

“He was a little bit gassy for a furlong, but once Callum said he got a lead he dropped in and settled well and went up through the gears from two down and hit the line strong. 

“I felt the ground was safe, and God willing he is fine in the morning as he is a big lad."

And an outing in a Derby trial now awaits Gethin before a tilt at the Epsom Downs Classic, which he was trimmed into 20-1 from 50-1 by Paddy Power. 

Burrows said: “On what he has done now the Derby dream is alive.

“I like this race timing wise as it gives us a bit of time before Chester, Lingfield and York.

“We will see what the opposition is and make a decision which way to go. I can’t see why he won’t handle Epsom as he is a well balanced horse.”

Market gets it right again with Beckett winner

The switch back to the turf appeared to be a beneficial move for Moon Over Miami, who regained the winning thread when getting the better of a tight finish in the Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd Silver Bar Handicap. 

Out of luck in three starts on the all-weather this winter the Ralph Beckett-trained Sea The Moon gelding looked much more at home on the turf in the extended two mile feature prize when adding to his two previous wins at Doncaster and Yarmouth.

Having cut out much of the running the 2-1 favourite looked there for the taking, but despite drifting right in the closing stages it was not enough to deny the market leader, who got the better of Charging Thunder by a head. 

Beckett said: “He is a complicated horse and he has not been easy. We have to train him in a certain way.

"He has only had six starts now so it has been a long road with him. 

“The all-weather clearly wasn’t suiting him hence why he is here." 

And although Moon Over Miami holds an entry in next month’s Ladbrokes Chester Cup an outing on the Roodee appears unlikely. 

Beckett added: “He lugged right throughout and as Hector (Crouch) put it he said I wouldn’t like to ride him from box 12 in a Chester Cup so that rules that out. 

“I think he might be one for the Queen Alexandra (at Royal Ascot) as I think he will stay really well.”

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