A round-up of the pick of the action from Kempton Park where Adelaise kicked off a notable treble for William Buick.
Adelaise flowers in Snowdrop
A course winner on her second start when trained by Martyn Meade, Adelaise (10/3) gained her first win since when edging out Choisya in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes at Kempton Park.
Now with Joseph O'Brien, Adelaise had performed consistently throughout 2023, firstly in handicaps and latterly at this Listed level, coming close to a breakthrough success when beaten under a length into fourth in France. The five-year-old didn't have very much to find on official ratings and was always to the fore having jumped well under William Buick.
As the pace quickened in the straight, Buick had to get serious in the saddle fully two furlongs from home and even though Adelaise was headed by Choisya, she responded gamely once in her stride to edge out the favourite by a head.
Rose Prick was third at 50/1.
Interviewed on Racing TV, Buick said: "She looked magnificent before the race, she was very fresh going out and was really well in herself.
"She probably just did a tad too much early but when I got the cover I needed she was in a nice rhythm and she really stayed on well. She got a bit of competition towards the end and she showed how determined she is and I'm sure the connections will be very pleased with her."
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Warrior goes down fighting
Killybegs Warrior, in company with Old Peculier, dictated the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Rosebery Handicap.
Well-backed favourite Old Harrovian raced just behind the pace in fourth but was too keen on his seasonal reappearance and had nothing left to offer in the straight as the front two kicked for the line in the 11 furlong contest.
Nothing was able to get involved from off the pace but top-weight Cemhaan (25/1), prominently ridden, did join issue on the inside of Killybegs Warrior and, after a sustained duel, got the better of his rival by three quarters of a length.
Intinso came from a long way back to edge out Old Peculier for third but was over two lengths adrift of the principals.
Neil Callan, who has now won two of his three starts aboard George Baker's charge, said: "Maybe I just get on him at the right time. Last season when I won on him it was a smaller field, it was a bit tricky and he kind of dominated it from the front but he was obviously the best horse in that race whereas today more prize money, bigger handicap so it's got to be more competitive.
"There wasn't really any instruction, there wasn't really any way to ride him, I was just going to go with the flow. I took the blind off at the last second and he was out like a greyhound; it's testament to his ability and his genuinity, he just tries.
Cemhaan lands the Rosebery
"He flew the gate. I went to lead and James was intent to go on and I was a bit mindful not to get into a ding-dong too early with top-weight on his back. So I let James go on and take the box seat and I knew when he did that he would slow it up but I thought that would also play into my hands because you don't want an end-to-end gallop over a mile and a three for a horse with this amount of weight on his back so I got him into a rhythm, nice and relaxed, but I made sure I had the revs going over the junction; it's a long way home from there but you don't want it turning into a sprint and them getting three lengths on you that you can't get back.
"I was lucky, he just got a length on me and I knew I'd peg him back at that stage."
Baker’s wife, Candida, added: “George is playing golf in Africa. I think he’d much rather be here today!
“I’m so pleased. Cemhaan went all the way to St Moritz and then the racing was called off, which was very annoying as all the owners were out there and it takes about three days to get him there.
“This was always the plan for him once we brought him back. With that top-weight, he was so tough, I got the saddle off Neil and I was carrying it thinking, ‘God, I’m not going to put this on him too early if I can help it’. He’s just so genuine, tries so much and I’m chuffed to bits, he owes us nothing.
“Neil is an excellent jockey – when he’s in a ride-off against another jockey, I’d back him every time, even when it’s against James Doyle.”
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Duty rewarded in Queen's Prize
It was a similar story in the Virgin Bet Queen's Prize Handicap with Duty Of Care (6/1) always close to the gallop before pulling clear in the closing stages.
Representing father and daughter Jamie and Saffie Osborne, Duty Of Care had Sweet Fantasy for company turning in but that one weakened quickly in the straight and was swallowed up by the closers.
Tritonic tried hard but lacked the pace to challenge as did eventual second Sleeping Lion and the well-backed joint-favourite Novel Legend who was too far back given the way the race developed.
The places were completed by Circuit Breaker. The winning distances were two and three quarter lengths and a length and a quarter with Duty Of Care going once place better in the race than 12 months ago.
Duty Of Care wins the Queen's Prize
The winning trainer said: "I think Saffie actually led him up when he won here three years ago or 18 months ago; it's the first time she's ridden him.
"We've been slightly a victim of circumstances the last few runs; we've ended up being too far back from bad draws in slowly run races, as soon as this horse gets a true two miles where you need true two mile stamina that brings out the best of him so we decided to go up front today and he was going to bowl along if there wasn't enough pace.
"Saffie was there to make sure it stayed a true gallop and thankfully with the Gredley horse there it was a true gallop and we got a lead so it was perfect. All he does do is stay, he's as slow as a hearse and probably wants three miles so the obvious race for him would be the Ascot Stakes. I'll obviously have to speak to Pat Gallagher and see what he wants to do but in my mind he wouldn't run again until then."
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Buick completes treble
QIPCO 1000 Guineas hopeful Devoted Queen (1/2 favourite) was all the rage for the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places British EBF Fillies' Conditions Stakes and duly obliged but not without one or two moments of concern.
Keen early under Buick, she refused to settle behind the pace set by Ahlain but Devoted Queen quickened well once switched to the inside and swept past her rivals. Buick then seemed content to hold her together and push her out to the line with victory seemingly assured only for Marcella to flash home late to give the winner's supporters a scare.
There was only a neck between the pair at the line.
Devoted Queen is a general 25/1 chance for the 1000 Guineas.
Buick said: "She's very inexperienced and she needs to work on a few things but she should get there. Today was a new experience for her, bit fresh early, but she got there in the end.
"When she hit the front she probably had a bit of a look as well being so inexperienced and I think, all in all, everybody will probably be very pleased with that. It's a bit early to say that (she'll go for the Guineas) but they'll get her home and all those options will be discussed."
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Buick gave Notable Speech (4/7 favourite) a very confident ride in the equivalent race for colts and geldings.
Unbeaten in two starts, Notable Speech was held-up in last and Buick was still there approaching the final furlong. The response was instantaneous when Buick did eventually give Notable Speech his head and although it momentarily looked as though a gap might close on him, he put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
The form of his previous victory had been given a boost when the second, Cuban Tiger, won a Listed prize on All-Weather Championships Finals Day and the style of his two length success will do nothing to dampen the enthusiasm.
Notable Speech was given a 16/1 quote by Sky Bet for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. He is 20/1 with both Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook.
Devoted Queen strikes for Godolphin
When it was put to a grinning Buick that Notable Speech was 'brilliant', he replied with: "Yeah, he was.
"And I was very pleased with how well he'd done physically since last time I rode him, he's really filled out and felt like he'd grown a little bit as well which is always nice to see from a horse who has had two runs. I couldn't be more happy with him and I tested him a little bit today and he had them covered in a stride.
"I thought it was a nice little race with some horses that brought decent form from last year and he gave them all weight as well so a good performance. I just had to try and pick a smooth path but he's such a genuine and easy horse to deal with and he's got a bright future ahead of him I hope.
"Obviously it's so wet so I guess it was a nice opportunity for him to come here and have another run on this surface. I think he'll handle a little bit of cut in the ground but he's a very fast horse with a low action so I think he would want decent ground. I think he's opened up a few options there and he's a speedy miler for sure."
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Ferrous shows iron will
Ferrous (11/2) followed up a Wolverhampton defeat of the re-opposing Knebworth with a taking victory in the Virgin Bet Fives Handicap.
Held-up in midfield in a strongly run race by David Probert, Ferrous made the most of a nice split in the straight and pulled clear of his rivals to score by two and three quarter lengths.
Intervention was second with the veteran Exalted Angel back in third.
There was an exciting finish to the opening six furlong novice with the first three home separated by a head and the same. Auric (7/2 co-favourite) came out on top for Hugo Palmer and Oisin Murphy.
The jockey said: "He got a lovely ride on debut by Brandon Wilkie and Hugo said he'd improved from that race. It was a good spot for him, he made hard work of it in the end because, tactically, the pace was slow but he's a horse I hope will improve. I imagine he's a sprinter who will get a little bit faster as he learns his job."
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