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Freer winner Zechariah on Leger trail

Zechariah staked his St Leger claims with an all-the-way victory in the BetVictor Geoffrey Freer Stakes.

Sent off the 6/4 favourite for trainers Martyn and Freddie Meade, despite disappointing at Newmarket last time out, Zechariah broke sharply for Tom Marquand, who was eager to push on in front.

Outbox and Hollie Doyle sat on his heels for most of the extended one-mile-five-furlong trip and looked likely to mount a strong challenge at the top of the straight. However, Zechariah kept finding for pressure and while Universal Order made a late bid for glory, the winner had flown, coming home three and a half lengths clear.

Betfair and Paddy Power clipped the Nathaniel colt to 16/1 from 20s for the Cazoo St Leger on September 10, with Doncaster Classic in connections’ sights.

Freddie Meade said: “I think the St Leger is on the cards. That is what we had in the back of our minds before this, so we will talk to everybody and make a plan. Tom gave him a great ride and knew him from winning here last year and he sat on him before Ascot, so we are thrilled to get him on board and get the job done.

“He is a nice colt and it was trainer error at Newmarket and he has got us off the hook today. It was my fault actually – the young, gung-ho approach! I think he is very versatile in terms of ground as he won on good to soft here last year and he has performed at Ascot on quick ground. To have a horse that versatile is brilliant.”

Marquand was similarly impressed with Zechariah, who was only narrowly beaten in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

He added: “It was really straightforward. That run back after Ascot probably came just a bit quick for him in reality. He has done nothing wrong. It is a class jump to the St Leger but as I said to Freddie, you can’t put him off on what he has done there. He stays really well and he has handled that ground fine, but arguably you’d say he does handle a little bit of cut.

“So, the backend of the season shouldn’t be the end of the world for him. He is a stayer that is moving forward and the size of him now would suggest that whatever he does this season, he will improve upon next season and beyond.

“It is great for (part owner) Aquis Farm to have a nice stayer as they have the really long-term views. They have plenty going on in Australia and I’m sure they will have that in the back of their minds. I’m looking forward to getting back there at some point.”

Dance on Classic trail

William Buick feels Victory Dance could develop into a Classic prospect after taking the Listed Denford Stakes.

The Godolphin-owned son of Dubawi gained compensation for a head defeat in the Group Two Superlative Stakes at Newmarket on his second start as he made no mistake in the seven-furlong contest.

Dropped out by Buick in the early stages, he tracked the slightly free-going Ferrari Queen, one of three fillies in the five-strong field, drawing readily alongside approaching the furlong marker. Victory Dance then showed his rivals a clean pair of heels, justifying 8-15 favouritism with a conclusive length-and-a-quarter victory, looking better the further he went.

Ferrari Queen stayed on gamely for second, with The Queen’s Candle Of Hope sticking on well on the stands’ rail for third.

The Dewhurst Stakes and UAE 2000 Guineas may well be on the agenda for the Charlie Appleby-trained winner, although Buick felt he will have plenty of scope to develop as a three-year-omald.

“He is quite an unfurnished type and is going to be a lovely three-year-old and he is going to get a mile,” he said. “That was a lovely confidence-booster today. He went down narrowly in the Superlative and that was only his second start, so to come here today and do it how he did was very pleasing. He is still learning.”

Kingscote times it right on Postwick

The best medicine is often a winner and after suffering a horror spill at Wolverhampton on Friday, Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote showed no ill effects, timing his run brilliantly on Postwick in the 10-furlong Download The BetVictor App Handicap.

Though 7lb claimer Mohammed Tabti poached a long lead aboard General Lee, he was eventually reeled in as the Harry Eustace-trained Postwick (17-2) came with a withering run to take the spoils by two and a half lengths.

Eustance said: “For whatever reason it didn’t go right last week at Brighton, so we went back to a trip over which he had run well. They went very hard, which helped, as he is quite tough on himself. He deserved this. He has run some good races without being a winner, so it is nice to see him get his head back in front. We’ll look for another mile-and-two-furlong handicap after this.”

Rest of the action

Eve Johnson Houghton was in double form as Suzy’s Shoes struck in the Mettal UK British EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes, adding to stablemate Jumby’s success in the feature Hungerford Stakes.

A fair fifth in a Goodwood maiden previously, the Nathaniel three-year-old made light work of her three rivals in the 11-furlong event as Charles Bishop put the race to bed two furlongs out, drawing five and a half lengths clear of Rechercher.

The winning trainer said: “It has been a good day, I thought it started off badly – my two-year-old hung like a rusty gate. I don’t know where we go with her, but she is nicely-bred. I doubt she will go up much, as she is rated the same as the runner-up. The pair of them are about the same.

“On fast ground and in a four-runner-race, the handicapper won’t take this too literally. She shouldn’t go up more than 2lb or 3lb really. She is a nice, big filly that hopefully is going to improve in time.”

Jack Mitchell paid tribute to nine-year-old Documenting, who came with his customary singular powerful run to claim the seven-furlong Play Pick 6 At BetVictor Handicap.

Kevin Frost’s charge finished a close-up fifth here last time and took the laurels with a game three-quarter-length victory from Dance Fever on this occasion.

After the gelding’s ninth success from 40 career starts, Mitchell said of the 7-2 winner: “Seven furlongs is his optimum trip. He is as game as anything. I have won on him a few times now, but he is just such an easy horse to deal with.

“He can be a bit clever in the race but when he is on a going day, he is great. He looked amazing in the paddock.

“He cantered down with his head in his chest, letting everyone know he was here, and normally you’d ride him with a bit more restraint in a bigger field, where there is more cover, but we didn’t have that today. I just jumped and nothing else came with me, so sat a bit handier.”

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