Newmarket Thursday review: Amo Racing win three year old sprint handicap

Freedom wins Abernant at fourth attempt

Run To Freedom won the Group 3 Zyn Abernant Stakes at the fourth attempt at 28/1 under Rob Hornby at Newmarket on Thursday.

Henry Candy, having his first runner of 2026, has now trained the eight-year-old to seven career victories and this was his first Group-race victory, for all that he had run some big races at the very top level.

Second at 150/1 in the British Champions Sprint and second and third in two July Cups, the son of Muhaarar is well used to competing in the top sprints and he travelled like a class horse here off the pace set by Quinault and Washington Heights.

He took over from Quinault when hitting the rising ground and ran away for a comfortable three-quarter length success, with Aramram running on for second on the stands' side.

Candy said: “I thought he would run well as he has been working nicely. He has done a huge amount of work in the swimming pool and on the grass, and I thought he would run a great race.

"I don’t want to be rude about it, but it wasn’t the greatest Abernant that there has ever been and I thought he had a good chance.

“He had a lovely long holiday and went back to Kirtlington Stud. He does a lot of work in the pool so we try and save his legs as much as possible. He is the most gorgeous looking horse and he has got a fantastic pedigree.

“He was a little bit upset in the stalls, as he always is, but he travelled absolutely beautifully through the race. He was travelling that well he just let him go on half-way through the race and when he met the rising ground he really stretched.

“He does need an uphill finish. His worst autumn effort last year was up at Haydock Park, which is a very flat track, and he never gets going on a flat track, and York he doesn’t like much. Tracks like here, the July Course and Ascot with an uphill finish suit him.

“Having spent the winter telling Godfrey (Wilson, owner) that I wasn’t going to make any Group One entries anymore, and that we would probably go handicapping over seven furlongs, I suspect I will be told we revert to Plan A! He has won some money for the entries.

“The end of last year was disappointing and one had to start thinking about lowering the sights and doing things differently, but I think we are back on track really.”

Promising horse for Royal team

Portcullis looked like a potential star in the making after carrying the Royal silks to glory in impressive fashion in the Betway Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes.

Although easy to back in the market the son of Frankel put in a performance he famous sire would have been proud off when leaving his rivals toiling in the mile contest.

After travelling smoothly into contention under Ryan Moore, the John and Thady Gosden-trained 7/1 chance soon put matters to bed when sent on before crossing the five and a half lengths clear of Dark Whisper.

However, despite the impressive performance his joint-trainer John Gosden, was quick to point out that he would take baby steps with Portcullis opposed to throwing him straight into the deep end.

John Gosden said: “He was a little lost leaving the gate, but he has picked up and travelled well. Ryan said he found a nice rhythm and he left him alone in it. There goes the handicap mark!

“He has done nothing wrong at home. Strangely enough he has worked with the horse who was last (Santushti). He wasn’t concentrating at all, but he was drawn in stall one and he was never in the race.

“He works exactly similar to him. There wouldn’t be a lot between them. I would have to say that the other horse has worked better than this one a couple of times.

“It is obviously pleasing to win like that. We don’t know what the second and third are like as they are unraced horses, but it was a pleasing start. I think Ryan was happy with him but slightly embarrassed by the winning margin.

“You kept your feet on the ground, probably look at a novice under a penalty and let the horse learn. Ryan said he was in the gate and he was uneasy and left, so he has a lot to learn. You take a small step before a big step.”

Amo fire in the first winner

Frankie Dettori found himself back in familiar surroundings after Sovereign Spell continued his unbeaten start to the season with a tenacious success in the Betway Handicap at Newmarket.

There might not have been any flying dismounts, but the 55-year-old was on hand to pick up first prize following the six furlong contest on behalf of Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing Limited, who he works as a global ambassador for.

Having got off the mark at Wolverhampton on his previous start the 4/1 joint-favourite proved a tough nut to crack out in front with Rowan Scott-steering the son of Invincible Spirit to glory by half-a-length.

Dettori, who called time on his career in Brazil back in February, said: “I’ve been in Newmarket for a few days and it is nice to have a winner. Rowan gave him a beautiful ride.

"I’ve only just started the new role, but it is all good. All my kids live in England so as soon as I retired I was always going to come back."

As for triumphant trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy he expects Sovereign Spell to carry on making his mark in the handicap ranks as the season progresses.

The Newmarket handler said: “He found a very good rhythm at the front end. There is a bit of a tailwind which suits front runners. He kept finding, a bit like at Wolverhampton where his best furlong was his last furlong.

“We thought over a stiff six as a fitter horse let him bowl along on the front end. He has got a good stride and he is a very balanced horse so I’m delighted with that. He is a tough horse that will always keep finding, but he will never win by too far. "You could see he always had something left in the tank.

“You could come back here in a couple of weeks, but I would say the three year old sprint at York would be the real target for him.”

Rest of the action

Charlie Appleby is yet to win the Prix du Jockey Club, but he could have a contender to change that statistic in Maho Bay, who maintained his unbeaten record with victory in the Betway EBF “Confined” Novice Stakes.

Having made a stylish debut at Kempton Park in December the son of Dubawi, who holds entries in the Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs and the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York, was sent off the 11/10 favourite to back that success up.

And he did not let his supporters down in the mile and quarter contest when prevailing by three and a half lengths to complete doubles on the day for both Appleby and jockey William Buick.

Appleby said: “He won nicely first time out at Kempton Park. We came in today knowing that the horse has done physically well. He is a big boy, but he is a nice simple galloper in that he goes out there and gallops.

“We discussed whether to put him in a Derby trial, but as you saw by the size of him he is not an Epsom horse realistically. Epsom might just catch him out given the size of him. Will said that this is about his trip and he could be one for the French Derby.”

And Hassaleh (10/11 favourite) got the ball rolling for Buick and Appleby when defying a 311-day absence to open her account at the second time of asking with a three length success in the Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Appleby said: “She is a filly that ran once last year. She has got quite a nice little pedigree to her. She wasn’t a forgotten filly in the spring, but she was just tipping away there and leading a few, and a few were struggling to get past her so we thought we better run her.

“She had a setback after Windsor, but it wasn’t anything serious. She is a filly that has a bit of scope about her, and I thought she was entitled to win like she did today. Seven furlongs I would say is her trip as she got plenty of boot. She has seen it out well, but I think she has just outclassed them."

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