A review of the rest of the action from Saturday's meeting at Newbury where Hurricane Ivor won the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes.
Hurricane Ivor has the engine
Hurricane Ivor (4/1) took the step up to Group Thee company in his stride to record a cosy success in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes.
The four-year-old defied top-weight in the Portland Handicap over five and a half furlongs a week ago and it looked for a few moments as though the drop back to the minimum might catch him out.
The eventual winner travelled strongly behind Moss Gill, Significantly and Tis Marvellous and it was the latter - in terrific form this season at the age of seven - who looked like bagging the spoils, leading deep inside the final furlong.
He was reeled in close home though and passed again by Moss Gill who got back up for second, finishing three quarters of a length adrift of Hurricane Ivor.
The winning rider Tom Marquand told ITV Racing: "I was a little bit cautious that we'd just be done for a bit of speed but the testing conditions helped.
"He's bouncing back to his two-year-old form now. Hopefully he's something to look forward to for the future."
Maureen Haggas, wife of winning trainer William, wasn't ruling out a tilt at the Prix de l'Abbaye but insisted that all decisions would be left to the trainer and connections.
"He was a bit more switched on this week as he was a bit laid back last week, he was a bit brighter," she said.
“He takes a while to get going, but this was half a furlong shorter so he’s done well to win. He did great, he's a grand little horse isn't he?
“He’s a lovely straightforward horse and just does what you ask him to – not much more though!
“I don’t know what we’ll do now, he doesn’t mind a bit of dig and it must rain at some point. He could go to France, you never know, he’s done nothing but improve.”
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Solid Stone catches Foxes
In many respects the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes was all about Al Aasy (4/6 favourite) who looked a potential star when winning twice at Newbury earlier this season.
However, a failure to focus on the job in hand had seen connections send the four-year-old for a gelding operation and everything appeared to be going according to plan for much of the 12 furlong Group Three.
Al Aasy breezed into contention alongside the stands' rail but Foxes Tales didn't allow him a moment's rest and was soon re-joined by Solid Stone (12/1) and Ilaraab.
The odds-on favourite was the first to cry enough, finishing fourth, as Solid Stone rallied under a drive from William Buick to win by a neck from Foxes Tales with Ilaraab third.
The winner was carrying a 3lb penalty having won a Windsor Group Three last month when fitted with cheekpieces (that were retained) and making the running for the first time. It was a record equalling fourth success in the race for trainer Sir Michael Stoute who first claimed the race with Fantastic Light in 1999.
Buick said: “He’s at that level, obviously, he had a 3lb penalty. Al Aasy looked the class horse in the race but he had questions to answer.
“I spoke to Sir Michael and we couldn’t see any pace in the race and given he won from the front at Windsor, we decided to go on and take advantage of it.
“They jumped on him when he was still going through the gears, but you wouldn’t find many horses that have the tenacity that he has. He responded very well.
“I hadn’t gone for everything when they joined me as I could feel him winding up, but it’s not ideal to drop back and then go again at that stage of the race.
“He won going away which would encourage you to try a mile and a half at some stage.”
Al Aasy's jockey Jim Crowley enjoyed better fortune in the finale, landing the Dubai Duty Free Surprise Handicap aboard Frontispiece (14/1) for his sister-in-law Amanda Perrett.
Shepherd sweet on Injazati
Callum Shepherd predicted a bright future for Injazati (9/2) having partnered Charlie Fellowes’ colt to a smooth success in the valuable Dubai Duty Free Handicap.
Winning for the third time in succession, this victory came off a mark of 91 and was achieved with relatively little fuss by two lengths.
Always handy, Shepherd kicked on a good two furlongs from home but never looked in any danger of being caught.
Sam Cooke got closest, while the returning King Leonidas made a nice comeback in third, but they were two lengths away.
“I had no real orders other than to let him jump and find a pitch and I was happy to let him bowl along,” said Shepherd.
“This isn’t a straight he’s encountered before, what with the width of the track and the crowd and things, and he just started to drift towards the rail but he really stuck his neck out and tried.
“I was very impressed. It was my first time riding him and I wouldn’t mind riding him again.
“I think he’s going to be a very good four-year-old. He’s got size and scope and despite signs of rawness, he still finished to good effect.”
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Wind op just the ticket for Ivatheengine
Ivatheengine (15/2) returned to winning ways in the Heatherwold Stud Handicap for Paul and Oliver Cole and Mohammed Tabti.
The four-year-old had been knocking on the door this season having hit the frame in four of five starts since returning from a wind operation and he denied Il Bandito and title chasing jockey Buick by half a length.
Ivatheengine was always to the fore and kept on well to deny the Charlie Hills-trained runner who, in turn, was a length clear of stablemate Dulas.
Jockey coach John Reid was full of praise for the 7lb who looked very polished in the finish.
“He came over from France, where he had about 50 rides, just over a year ago,” said Reid.
“He doesn’t speak much English, so if he wants to get more outside rides he’ll have to pick up the language, but he’s very tidy.
“I think he’s got a big future, this will do him the world of good, winning at Newbury on a big day.”
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Favourite Poet delights backers
The Roger Varian-trained Dubai Poet was sent off the 5/6 favourite off the back of an encouraging debut last month over course and distance and he didn't disappoint in the Sir David Sieff EBF Novice Stakes.
The Lope De Vega colt tracked the early pace before quickening clear in some style under Andrea Atzeni to win by five and a half lengths.
Unibet introduced him at 40/1 for next year’s Guineas and 50/1 for the Derby.
Andrea Atzeni was on board and said: “We’ve always thought quite a bit of him. His first run was solid when he finished fourth here and the race is starting to work out.
“He got away with seven furlongs but he probably wants a mile. It was straightforward, he came off the bridle early enough but the further he went, the better he felt. It wouldn’t surprise me if this could be it for him this year.”
The second division went the way of Andrew Balding’s Koy Koy (8/11 favourite) who scooted in by six and a half lengths under champion jockey Oisin Murphy.
Balding said: “He’d run well last time but is improving with racing, he was still a bit raw.
“He’ll be a nice horse next year. It’s probably it for this year now, but we’ll see how he is and see what races are around.”
