A review of the action from day one of Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting

Charlton runner bounces back in nursery

Big Song made plenty of noise ahead of a potential date in the sales ring after returning to winning ways in the Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Nursery Handicap.

The Harry Charlton-trained son of Earthlight left his defeat at Thirsk last time out on his first start over a mile when staying on well over the same trip under Kieran Shoemark to add to his previous success at Epsom Downs.

It looked as though early leader Gold Dawn had slipped the field after taking a wide path away from the remainder of the field, but the 9-1 chance gradually wore down his advantage before going on to score by three and a quarter lengths.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Mohammed Jaber, said: “I couldn’t see him slip at Thirsk, but I was saying before the race I remember many times I slipped on a bend and told a trainer, and owner, that I had slipped on a bend and never got going again after that.

“I watched this horse a dozen times and I couldn’t see any slip, but if the jockey said he slipped I believed him and it gave him some reason why he didn’t run on up the straight.

“Luckily, he has come back out and he looks more like the horse we thought he was after winning at Epsom. He has proved today he has seen the mile out well, which was a bit of a question mark. On this ground I thought he would get it.

“He is in the horses in training sale at the moment, but I’ve got to have a chat with the owner after this to see whether we stay in it or come out.”

Haggas juvenile impresses in the opener

William Haggas is yet to really show his hand with his two-year-old team, but Maltese Cross appeared a juvenile with a bright future following a battling win in the Hunters Prestige British EBF Maiden Stakes at Newmarket.

After finishing second on his debut down at Ascot 19 days ago, the son of Sea The Stars went one better when battling back after being headed late on to clinch victory in the mile prize under Tom Marquand.

Charting a path close to the running rail the 13-8 shot moved on into the lead approaching the two furlong pole, where he was swiftly joined by 5-6 favourite Del Maro and William Buick.

However, despite being passed inside the final furlong Maltese Cross rallied back in the closing strides before prevailing by a head.

Haggas said: “I like the way he stayed on up the hill. He didn’t have a hard race there (at Ascot) and he only gave him one (tap) close to the line to put the race to bed. Tom was quite complementary.

“We think he is a nice prospect. I think he has got a lot of furnishing and maturing to do and hopefully he will be a nice horse for next year. It was a nice performance.

"I don’t know the strength of the opposition and time will tell if it was a good race or not, but as far as the horse is concerned that was perfect for me.”

And looking to next year Haggas believes the George Waud-owned colt will get better the further he goes.

He added: "He wants a mile and a half really. I’m never too keen to run them too far at two.

"I don’t know whether he will run again this year and I don’t think he needs to. He will have learnt a lot from that and he liked the ground. We will try and aim him at a race in the spring."

Consistent Leopard gains well-deserved success

Arabian Leopard signed off her season in style when putting her assured stamina to good use to register a second win at the Rowley Mile this year in the British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap.

Since winning at the track in May the David Simcock-trained daughter of Ghaiyyath has reached the frame in four of her five subsequent runs, with her only blip coming when finishing down the field in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot.

Although having a number of horses in front of her at the half-way point in the six furlong prize once angled out by Sean Levey the 4-1 chance readily picked up before getting up close to the line to defeat favourite Lady Roxby by a neck.

Simcock said: “She has deserved that. The slightly longer six furlongs here compared to the July Course actually helps her a little bit as she is really a seven furlong filly.

“She stays well so when she got out you thought she would pick up and she has quickened nicely. I’m really pleased for (Dr) Jim Hay (owner) as always.

“She has been a model of consistency, bar that one race at Ascot where it just didn’t happen, and she wouldn’t have won over any trip that day.

“It is just finding the fillies races for her. That has been the hardest thing. She has been very consistent and it is a nice way to close the season.”

And following the race Simcock admitted he will make a late decision over the participation of Cash in the bet365 Cambridgeshire on Saturday.

He said: “We were banging our heads in stakes races so we decided to go a different direction last time out.

“We will have a look and see how the ground is on Saturday morning as if it is too quick there are races like the Balmoral (at Ascot) in three weeks time.”

20/1 surprise in the Jockey Club Bowl

Ed Walker finally saw his faith restored in Miss Alpilles, who put her potential retirement on hold with a surprise success in the Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes. 

Last sighted winning a 0-80 handicap at Goodwood the daughter of Sea The Stars stepped up markedly on that effort in the Listed prize to gain some valuable black-type. 

In a race which saw favourite, and last year’s German Derby hero, Palladium pull-up midway through, the 20-1 chance always looked like playing a part at the finish having travelled well throughout the two-mile prize. 

As early leader Live Your Dream faded out of contention the race looked to be heading the way of this year’s Chester Cup hero East India Dock, who pressed on for home entering the final quarter of a mile. 

However, despite officially being rated 12lbs higher than Miss Alpilles he could do nothing to withstand her challenge with Kieren Shoemark driving his mount on to register victory by three and a half lengths, a victory which completed a double on the day for the Group One winning rider. 

Walker said: “I honestly loved this filly as a two-year-old, and as a three-year-old, and I honestly thought she was going to be our Oaks filly and she has been nothing but horrifically disappointing. 

“She finally won on soft ground at Haydock Park and we always thought she wanted that until Kieran rode her at Ffos Las and said she hated the ground.

"We ran her on fast ground at Goodwood, and she absolutely bolted up, and here we are today. 

“Kieran has given her an absolute peach of a ride as he has smuggled her into the race. She was never really getting beat. I don’t think I’ve ever been so relaxed in a race as I was just hoping she might nick third.

"I’d love to say I’m a genius, but I had no idea that was going to happen.

“That was going to be her last run of her career as she was either going to be retired, or sold, but we might have to keep her in training now.”

Progressive four-year-old lands competitive finale

The final race on day one of the track's Cambridgeshire meeting saw most of the field in with a chance a furlong out but it eventually went the way of Stuart Kittow's in-form Sunny Corner (11/2) who stayed on best under Rossa Ryan to win quite cosily in the end.

Gorgeous Mr George (8/1) was second on the stands' side rail, with Just Typical (7/2 joint favourite) faring best of the rest back in third.

More from Sporting Life

• Free bets
• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.