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Angels delight for Currie

Nicola Currie reminded everyone of her talents in the saddle after giving her career a timely boost when guiding Angels Lane to glory in the Visit Malta St Hugh’s Stakes.

Life has been tough in recent seasons for the 33 year old, however she appears to have found a filly in the daughter of Harry Angel that can help put her name back in the spotlight.

After springing a 33/1 surprise on her debut at Chepstow, the Henry Candy-trained two-year-old was denied by the narrowest of margins over course and distance last time out in the Weatherbys Super Sprint.

However, there was to be no agonising near miss for Angels Lane on this occasion, who turned the Listed five-furlong feature into a procession late on.

In a race where it paid to be prominent, the 10/3 chance surged past early leader, and eventual third Wateera, just outside the final furlong before striding clear to defeat 9/4 favourite Fast Track by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

Currie said: “What was even worse was that I was banned when she ran in the Super Sprint and Laura Pearson rode her. It was one of them, I was sad to see her get beat, but I knew we had a nice filly going forward. She is a smart filly, and the boss has looked after her since the Super Sprint.

“She is very straightforward, which is nice, especially for a Harry Angel. I knew she would jump well, but she almost jumped too well. I just wanted to follow the leaders and ideally get in behind one, but on this ground you can’t take back.

“Luckily, when I got on Karl Burke’s horse girth (Wateera), she has dropped it. "Once I knew I could get a breather I knew I could then almost ride it like a piece of work. Really we haven’t dug deep in her at home so we didn’t know how much she has improved, but she clearly has. That was a really nice performance today.

“Six furlongs shouldn’t be a problem, but she does have that natural speed. I was half expecting to be a bit off the pace today as I knew there would be three front runners who are capable of going quite quick, but she has cruised into it.She has a nice cruising speed and good turn off foot, so we have that up our sleeve.”

And Currie, who as a result of her latest success moved into double figures for the year, feels that in Angels Lane she has landed on one that can take on an exciting journey.

She added: “That is why we ride out every day and go racing every day in the hope to find a good horse like this. I think she is going to be very exciting. The boss will do right by her and run her when she is ready. It is exciting and that is why we do what we do to chase these animals so I’m delighted.”

Unbeaten Evenfall impresses Loughnane

Billy Loughnane might have just said farewell to superstar Bow Echo, but he looks set to enjoy plenty of big days with Evenfall, who maintained her unbeaten record in the BetVictor Watch Weekend Winners EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes.

Arriving on the back of an impressive victory in a five furlong novice event at Yarmouth, the George Boughey-trained two-year-old doubled that tally when taking the step up an extra furlong in her stride in the £40,000 prize.

Travelling smoothly into the race, the 6/5 favourite quickly scooted clear of her rivals once asked for her maximum effort before finding more than enough at the end to hold off the late challenge thrown down by Sorrengail by half-a-length.

And, with entries in the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes and Boyle Sports Home Of The Early Payout Rockfel Stakes next to her name, along with a Group One entry in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile, Loughnane believes she is up to taking on bigger and better targets.

Loughnane said: “She is a talented filly, and I knew that coming here today. I wanted to make sure she did everything the right way. She was fast at Yarmouth, and I just took her back a bit to break her stride. I didn’t expect them to split into two groups so I had to come back and look for Will’s (Buick) tail (on Sorrengail) and, when I got that, she relaxed well.

“She had a good look around when I was there, but I never felt like I was going to get beat. She is a filly that loftier targets await. She is a big girl, and she has got the size to say she would get a little bit further, and she has got a very good cruising speed. Six furlongs is probably perfect for her two year old campaign.”

And on the day that Bow Echo introduced himself to the wider racing world 12 months ago, Loughnane was quick to hail his recently retired equine partner along with naming his best day in the saddle aboard him.

He added: “I do remember this day last year. I was gutted we couldn’t win the race again as we had won it for the two previous years. It is gutting we won’t see Bow Echo on the racecourse again, but I’m so lucky to have had him. It was a dream come true as a twenty year old.

"To say you have ridden an unbeaten superstar is fantastic. The Guineas was the best day that I’ve ever had on a racecourse.”

Burrows pleased as High shows improvement

King High held the winning hand on his second start when putting his previous experience to good use in the TPT Fire Supports St Michaels Hospice EBF Maiden Stakes.

12 months ago the mile prize was claimed by aforementioned Bow Echo, who used the race as a launchpad to future Group One success in the Betfred 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes.

Although the Owen Burrows-trained son of Kingman has a way to go to match those exploits, the Valmont-owned colt looks to have a bright enough future of his own judging by his latest effort.

After shaping well on his debut to finish fourth behind subsequent Listed scorer Quest For Stars at Sandown Park, the 11/2 chance built on that effort when holding fast-finishing debutant, and 5/4 favourite, Quicken Away at bay by a neck.

The trainer said: “That was grand. He has taken a nice step forward from Sandown Park, and the form of that has worked out quite well. He is still pretty raw as Callum (Rodriguez) said he still didn’t know what to do off the bridle.

“I think he is a work in progress, and he will keep improving. I think he will want a bit further next year, but I think a mile is far enough this year. Hopefully they will give us a mark after that run. We will see what mark they give us and go from there. That was my first winner for Valmont, and I’ve got four for them now, so that was important.”

Sweet success for Haggas team

Sweetwonderfulyou moved a step closer to fulfilling some lofty engagements later in the season when striking gold at the second time of asking in the Highclere Horse Feeds EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Having finished an eye-catching third on debut at Ascot last month, the William Haggas-trained filly was sent off the 4/6 favourite to go two places better in the seven furlong contest.

Although taking time to warm to the task, the daughter of Starspangledbanner, who holds entries in the Group Two Boyle Sports Home Of The Early Payout Rockfel Stakes and the Group One bet365 Fillies’ Mile, picked up well late on before obliging by a length and a half.

David Crossland, representing owners Dash Grange Stud, said: “She is an evolving two year old, and I think she has still got plenty of improvement left in her. She will be a proper three-year-old, so whatever happens this year is a bonus.

“We were hoping she had improved after Ascot, and the main thing is she has got the job done. We are exceedingly happy that she has done what she has done. The future looks particularly rosy at the moment.

“Tom (Marquand) was having to niggle at her, but he is convinced there is plenty left in the locker. She is still learning her business. That is still the objective to run her in a nice race this season, but we will have to see how she comes out of this race.

“I think this trip would be the absolute minimum and, moving on, I think we would look at going a little bit further.”

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