Newmarket Saturday review: Reports, reaction and free video replays

Clive Cox was not shy hiding his enthusiasm for Karsavina, who earned quotes for next year’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas after benefiting from what the triumphant trainer described as “impeccable ride” to make her debut a winning one at Newmarket.

Twelve months after sending out Bermuda to claim division one of the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes, the Lambourn handler repeated the feat in the opening division of the seven-furlong prize with Cheveley Park Stud’s homebred daughter of Ulysses.

Sweeping over the top of her rivals late on the 12/1 chance forged ahead under Rossa Ryan virtually on the line to defeat Time’s Eye by a head, with the equally fast-finishing Ludmilla a further short head away in third.

Following the race Karsavina was introduced at 40/1 for the 2023 QIPCO 1000 Guineas by Paddy Power.

Cox said: “She is from a family that we know particularly well as her dam is half-sister to Zonderland and she is a half-sister to Positive who we also trained. They are a family that are generally happy on better ground so that is testament to her ability today.

“She has been a bit slow maturing and we have taken our time with her. I’m really excited and I could not be more pleased. It was a wonderful way to break her maiden. Rossa gave her an impeccable ride.

“She behaved well today and she has got a bit of scope for next year. She is going to be a nice filly and I’m really excited. We will see how the winter goes but a Guineas trial is a possibility next season and she should get a mile. I’m just thrilled she has taken that first step so pleasingly.”

Retiring Channon strikes gold

Mick Channon found the back of the net on his final visit to Newmarket as a trainer today when Caernafon came from last to first to secure the most significant victory of her career in the British Stallion Studs EBF Montrose Fillies’ Stakes.

After announcing earlier today that he would be handing over the reins of his West Ilsley yard to his son Jack at the start of next year the former Southampton, Norwich and Manchester City star added another Listed success to his CV thanks to the daughter of Cityscape.

Anchored at the rear of the field for much of the race by Connor Beasley the 11/1 chance, who finished third at the same level at Pontefract last time out, travelled strongly into contention to join 5/2 favourite Dream Of Love inside the final quarter of a mile.

Quickly opening an advantage once hitting the front it looked as though Caernafon was going to score quite comfortably, however after idling slightly late on she was forced to pull out all the stops to defeat Irish challenger Keep In Touch by half a length.

Former England international Channon said: “She has got a great cruising speed and I just said to Connor to get her rolling down the hill.

“He said he got there far too soon but the race stopped and fell apart on him. Then she is in front and she stopped. She is a nice filly and she seems to be going to right way as all she has done is improve.

“She is a full sister to Dan’s Dream that we trained so she will be worth a lot of money and we think this is a better filly. She is tough and has had her runs but she has improved all year. We are thrilled. The trouble was she looked like hosing up but then the race fell apart a bit.

“It is nice to have a nice horse to hand over to Jack. This is the last time I will be coming to Newmarket as a trainer so I thought I better come and take the money. I think she is crying out for a mile and a quarter. Whether she get a mile and a half is the million dollar question.”

Despite set to call time on his career as a trainer, which began in 1989, the 73 year old insisted he will not be totally walking away from the sport.

He added: “I will still be about buying and selling horses as I’ve done that for years and I’m not going to stop doing that. You won’t see me much on a racecourse but you will still see me at the sales but the time is right to hand over to Jack."

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Classic-winning trainer William Haggas believes Orchid Bloom (9/1) could be “quite useful” after following in the hoof prints of Listed winning stablemate Golden Lyra to provide the Newmarket handler with back-to-back wins in division two of the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Finding her feet smartly under Cieren Fallon the daughter of Farhh drew readily clear of her rivals to score by three and a quarter lengths from fellow debutant Reconsider Me to earn a 33/1 quote for next year’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas.

Haggas said: “It was a bit of a surprise really given how our two year-olds have been running recently. It was a surprise that this one has won first time out so she must be quite useful.

“Like all the others at home she has been showing okay at home but nothing special. She has won well and I think she has enjoyed the ground.

“She is very kind and a delightful filly to deal with. She will get a mile, she might get beyond that but it is early days. We won this with Golden Lyra last year and she is alright as well.”

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby intends to send out another strong team to Dubai over the winter which will now include Ottoman Fleet, who booked his place among that squad when securing the trainer a one-two in the Listed National Stud Welcomes Stradivarius James Seymour Stakes.

The Sea The Stars gelding added to his Listed course and distance success in the Denbury Homes Fairway Stakes back in May when running riot over his in the mile and a quarter contest in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Appearing to travel well throughout the 9/4 favourite quickly put matters to bed once sent on by Moore around quarter of a mile from home before galloping resolutely all the way to the line to defeat stablemate Royal Fleet by five and a half lengths.

Appleby said: “He is a horse that we contemplated dropping back to a mile. If the Ben Marshall would have been here then I would have split them up. They have gone a good gallop up front here and it has played into his hands. He is a horse that will probably make his way out to Dubai now and be part of that team.

“I think a mile and a quarter is his trip but it wouldn’t worry me coming back to a stiff mile in these conditions. He should handle these conditions as he is a Sea The Stars out of a Motivator mare so he should like a bit of juice in the ground really.

“We will work back from something like the Dubai Millennium with him. He has that Listed penalty around his neck and that is a Group Three over a mile and a quarter so that will probably be his target.”

The final race at Newmarket in 2022, the seven-furlong Christmas Parties At Newmarket Handicap, went the way of 7/2 favourite Astral Beau.

Trained by Pam Sly and partnered by Shane Kelly, the three year old Brazen Beau filly is a granddaughter of Sly’s 2007 1000 Guineas heroine Speciosa and was winning at Newmarket for the third time this year following victories on the July Course in August and last month on the Rowley Mile.

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