Egan warms up for Breeders' Cup trip in style
David Egan warmed up for his big race ride aboard Teona at this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Saturday (6th November) in perfect fashion after partnering Shandoz to victory in the feature Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Floodlit Stakes at Kempton Park today.
The 22 year old added another Listed success to his name in what has already been a campaign to savour after the Roger Varian-trained Golden Horn gelding went one better than on return to the All-Weather at Lingfield Park four weeks ago.
Positioned in midfield for much of the race, the 9/2 chance swept down the outside of the field late on in the mile and a half contest before prevailing by a length from Desert Fire.
Egan said: “I’m over the moon. He is a horse that has had a few niggly little problems. It was a nice come back run the other day finishing second behind Sir Mark Prescott’s horse (Bodyline).
“I normally drop him out last as that is how he has done all his winning in those big handicaps at Ascot. I thought in this grade of race I had to ride him more prominently to give himself a chance.
“He was only rated 97 and we were looking for a first four finish. He just hit top gear 100 yards from the line and quickened away really nicely, like a nice staying horse.”
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Looking ahead to future plans Egan believes Shandoz could be one that takes in a Middle Eastern campaign over the winter.
He added: “He could potentially have a Middle Eastern campaign. There are lots of races out there with the Meydan Carnival and maybe the staying race on the Saudi Cup card. There are lots of options and the team will decide on that later.”
Egan, who landed the Group One Juddmonte International Stakes at York aboard Mishriff in August will bid for further top level glory on Teona, who holds entries in the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf and the Longines Turf at the weekend.
It will be the first time Egan has ridden the Roger Varian-trained filly, who claimed Group One glory in the Prix Vermeille at Paris-Longchamp last time out, since finishing 10th in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom Downs in June.
He added: “I’m heading out to America in the morning. I’m very excited to get the call up on a tremendous filly in Teona. I rode her in the Oaks when it wasn’t her ground but hopefully conditions will be right for her out there as she goes there in top form."
De Sousa a marvel on Marble
Silvestre de Sousa spoke of his eagerness to be involved in the race to be crowned champion Flat jockey for a fourth time next year after steering 1/2 favourite Miss Marble to glory in the Unibet/Breeders Backing Racing EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes
The 40 year old will end his role as retained rider to for the Srivaddhanaprabha family’s King Power Racing outfit on November 15th which will potentially free him up in 2022 to try and secure the coveted title he claimed in 2015, 2017, 2018.
Although his current position is coming to the conclusion, De Sousa, who was also retained by Godolphin between 2014 and 2017, admitted he has enjoyed his time spent with King Power Racing.
De Sousa said: “For the last three years I’ve been with King Power Racing and I have had an amazing time with them and they are really good people. I hope to ride plenty of winners next year. If I have the opportunities and I get the support from the trainers, then I will work hard and hopefully be thereabouts.
“There is still a long way to go, however.”
On the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained winner he said: “She was a bit stubborn going to the gate but she got settled and showed a bit of speed. In the race nobody wanted to go to the front but as she had experience I just let her bowl along.
“Simon really likes this filly. Joe (Fanning) rode the filly last time and before we went out he said I think she is a nice filly. I think she has got a bright future.”
Muscutt fires double delight
Daniel Muscutt continued his best year in the saddle numerically after registering a 142/1 double secured by Blue Artemis, who landed division two of the Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Handicap by three quarters of a length.
After celebrating domestic winner number 69 of the year aboard the James Fanshawe-trained filly the 26-year-old hopes he can take the next level in his career by securing more opportunities at a higher level.
Muscutt said: “It has been great really and my agent (Paul Clarke) has worked very hard. I’ve been lucky to get on the right horses for some nice trainers and I’ve had plenty of support from them.
“I could probably just do with a few higher grade winners and opportunities in those races but they are harder to come by but we will be keep kicking and hopefully they will come after a nice campaign numerically.”
On the 12/1 winner he added: “She has come forward for her last that run and the application of a tongue tie has helped. She is a genuine little filly that has found her grade.”
The Mark Usher-trained Bagatelle (10/1) got the ball rolling for Muscutt when running out a three and a quarter length winner of division one of the mile contest.
He said: “She did it well. She has had a few little niggly issues beforehand but she found a nice little spot and put it to bed nicely.”
Jockey Hollie Doyle described the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Marching Army as a “lovely big beast” following his neck success in the Unibet London Middle Distance Series Final Handicap.
Doyle said of the triumphant 100/30 favourite: “He is a lovely horse that will get a bit further as I was in top gear most of the way.
“He is a lovely big beast and I’m really pleased that Saeed kept me on him."
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