Injured Jim Crowley misses three winners after Doncaster fall including Khaadem

Thankfully Crowley escaped serious injury in a nasty incident in the closing stages of the Take The Reins Nursery Handicap when Jadhlaan came down on crossing the line.

Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan provided an update on Crowley, who went to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.

Duncan added: “He was conscious and stood up walking, but he was very sore.”

Later in the afternoon Richard Hills, assistant racing manager for owners Shadwell Estate, had further good news.

“I just spoke to Jim. He’s missing all the winners. But he’s had an MRI scan, and that’s clear. He won’t ride tomorrow, but he’s OK,” said Hills.

Jadhlaan’s fall sadly proved fatal and Crowley was initially out of action for race two, which saw the very promising Israr come out on top in a battle of well-regarded newcomers in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.

A son of John Gosden’s Oaks and King George winner Taghrooda and champion sprinter Muhaarar, the youngster was nevertheless sent off at 8/1 behind favourite and stablemate Frantastic, himself a full-brother to Cracksman.

Drawn on the wing in stall 10, Israr lost ground by jinking right at the start, but was soon back on an even keel and with Frantastic off the bridle with two furlongs to run, he moved stylishly into contention.

Despite looking green Frantastic made a pleasing debut, running on into third, but for Israr it was the perfect start, beating the outsider Savvy Victory by half a length.

Crowley was replaced by Robert Havlin who said: “It’s nice to ride a winner, but never nice in those circumstances. The doctor said he (Crowley) got up OK, but was feeling a bit of pain high in his back so they took him to get checked over.”

On the winner, who was given a 25/1 quote by Paddy Power and Betfair for the Derby, Havlin added: “He’s very laid-back. He’s like family – Taghrooda was very laid-back.

“We were going slow (early), and he wasn’t really taking the bit. So I sat closer then. He was just racing a little bit babyish – but when I gave him a squeeze, he was all there for me and finished out well.

“He picked up well. He’s from a mile-and-a-half family, but he’s a bit quicker. You can see he’s smaller and stockier and stronger than the others. He’s nice, and we hope he’s got a bright future.

“I love his mindset.”

Thady Gosden trains Israr with his father and said of their runners: “I was very happy with both of them. Obviously it was first time out for both, so there’s that lack of experience.

“I was very happy with the third there (too). He ran on nicely, got the hang of things late on.

“I’m very happy with the winner. They’re both exceptionally well-bred.”

Crowley would also have been aboard the Charlie Hills-trained Khaadem, who ran out a clear-cut victor in the Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes as the 5/4 favourite.

Khaadem’s trainer was delighted at the 2019 Stewards’ Cup hero’s first success in 11 subsequent attempts – on his favoured quick ground, wearing blinkers for just the second time and dropped to five furlongs for the first time in his career.

“He looked good, didn’t he – first time at this trip, it’s great,” said Hills.

“To control the race as he did against proper fast five-furlong horses takes some doing. A race like that might just give him confidence now. He’s been a long time without winning, so that will do him the world of good.”

The Lambourn trainer admits there will be some head-scratching before he works out where Khaadem may run next – with a transatlantic trip to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup an improbable prospect because the five-year-old had dropped almost a stone in the ratings before this triumph.

“It would be nice to think somewhere like Breeders’ Cup,” he said.

“But he’s come down a bit in the weights, obviously 104 today, and to get in a race like that you need to be in the 115s."

Khaadem’s superiority, by a length and three-quarters from Live In The Moment, nonetheless left no one in any doubt that when conditions are in his favour he has a touch of class.

“He loves the fast ground,” added Hills.

“We’ve been scratching our heads with him. We tried him over seven furlongs, and we just put the blinkers on him because he’s been getting a little bit frustrating. When he worked in them he was like a different horse, he just took off on the gallops.”

Buick’s trickiest task was to channel that exuberance, before Khaadem took control.

Hills said: “Obviously (we were) dropping to five (furlongs), but the plan was just to try to ride him the same way we did last time, try to get a little lead. He’s a horse that doesn’t want disappointing, so I said to William just try to let him feel like he’s boss and nurse him in.

“But William says he’s a proper fast horse now. So we’ll have to have a look and see what there is next. In his first race this year, we took him to Meydan for the Group One there, and he ended up favourite for it – so he’s been up there with the best.

“It hasn’t quite worked out. But last year he had some stomach ulcers, so we were nice and easy with him really. It’s been two years that he hasn’t won, so it’s great to get his head in front.”

Khaadem was ridden by William Buick, who again deputised for Crowley in the I Love Julie Parkes Handicap which was won by Owen Burrows’ Anmaat (11/4). After the three-year-old had consigned runner-up Faisal’s unbeaten career profile to history, Burrows must hope he can handle another ratings rise from a current 94.

The Lambourn trainer said: “He won nicely at Bath last time. I didn’t think that was probably much of a race, so I was a little concerned at the 8lb hike for it. But he’s handled that well, and he’s still improving.”

The closing Visit Doncaster Handicap went to Geoff Harker’s course specialist Wentworth Falls, ridden by Connor Beasley. The evergreen nine-year-old was winning for the third time on Town Moor, on this occasion by half a length from favourite Al Simmo.

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