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French star Sajir claims Abernant

Sajir looked like a sprinter going places after setting up a return to Group One company when maintaining his unbeaten start to the year in the Blandford Bloodstock Abernant Stakes.

The son of Make Believe vindicated his connections to swerve a tilt at the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan earlier this month when showing a neat turn off foot late on to plunder the Group Three contest under Oisin Murphy.

Having made a winning return to action last season the Andre Fabre-trained four year old appeared to lose his way slightly, however there was no signs of that happening again this term as he readily added to his comeback success in a Listed event at Chantilly.

Sitting just off the early pace, which was cut out by last year’s Ayr Gold Cup winner Lethal Levi, the 2/1 joint-favourite found the gaps appear at the right time before pressing on into a lead he would hold all the way to the line.

Although Grand Grey made rapid headway from the rear of the field it was not enough to reel in Sajir, who crossed the line with half a length in hand.

Ted Voute, racing manager to owner Prince Faisal, said: “We have had our eyes set on trying to make him a stallion at some point at either six or seven furlongs.
He was on the better ground this side and the filly looked a bit free, however I thought she was the danger with all that form behind her. I’m delighted and Prince Faisal is here and he watched from upstairs so he is delighted. Prince Faisal raced Make Believe and bought him as a foal so this is a nice start to the season.

“He started like this last year, but he got an abscess in his near hind and it kept opening up during the season and he kept not quite firing, although he ran well each time. We won in France the other day and we wanted to go to the Al Quoz, but we didn’t think he was battle brave enough and Andre came up with the idea of coming here as it sits right and it would make a bit more of a man of him. Over the winter he flourished and you could see today he was a stand out in the paddock as he had a great coat on him.”

And following the race Voute hinted that a trip to Royal Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes could now be on the agenda for Sajir.

He said: “Oisin said he wouldn’t be out of place in trying to go to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot. If we are going to make him a stallion then that is where we might ought to aim, but that will be decided by Prince Faisal and Andre.

“The stiff six at Ascot should suit him and we have also got York (for the City Of York Stakes) that we could play around with looking at as long as we convince Andre to leave Deauville alone!”

Balding run continues in Wood Ditton

High Stock looked to be another above average individual to come off trainer Andrew Balding’s production line when continuing his flying start to the season in the bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes.

Having already unleashed a number of smart looking three year olds, with more still to come, the son of Dubawi added his name to that growing roster to make a winning debut in the mile prize.

Travelling into the race in eye-catching fashion close to the stands side rail the 11/2 chance demonstrated the best of his battling abilities close to the line to master the rallying Spy Kingdom by a head.

Balding said: “He is a horse we like a lot, but I thought it might be a bit sharp for him today as he will stay further in time. David (Probert) gave him a lovely ride and he stuck at it and just got it done. He was just running around a little bit as he was a bit green and the rail helped him no question.

“He has done half of what the others have done at home in preparation because he had a few niggles last year so he hasn’t done as much as them, but we have always liked him and he will improve a lot for the run.

“He is not in the Dante, or anything particularly fancy, but there is always Ascot if we need more time and that is more likely. I think we will try a bit further with him next time for sure.”

Rush continues to progress

Charlie Hills has trained his fair share of smart sprinters and Double Rush appears to be another heading in the right direction after securing a first win on turf in the bet365 Handicap at Newmarket.

After opening his account with a front running success at Wolverhampton 16 days ago the son of Blue Point added to that tally when cashing in off his opening mark of 85 in the six furlong contest.

Although unable to dictate matters like last time out the 9/4 favourite showed a willing attitude late on when bursting through inside the final furlong to get the better of stablemate Bob Mali by a length and a quarter.

Hills said: “He did make all in a novice, but that was a different test to this and we wanted to teach him to race properly here. Jason (Watson) gave him a lovely ride. He could have handled the dip a bit better and I think he will be better on a flatter track. The horses weren’t quite right last season and he has probably got in here off a nice mark.

“There is a nice race up at York for him before Royal Ascot and we might go straight there, however there is also another race like this back here next month, but I feel a flatter track will suit him better. I think he will be a nice improving three year old throughout the season.”

Lightning strikes for Gosdens

Swiss Lightning rewarded favourite backers when securing a tenacious success on her second start in the Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

After finishing eighth in a heavy ground maiden over course and distance at the back end of last season the daughter of Night Of Thunder built on that experience to complete doubles for John and Thady Gosden and Kieran Shoemark.

When push came to shove in the seven furlong contest the 2/1 favourite rolled up her sleeves to stick her neck out where it mattered to get the better of an entertaining three-way battle by a head from Stellenbosch.

John Gosden said: “It was heavy when she ran last year. It gave her experience of a racecourse, but it was heavy ground and she didn’t like it and the jockey looked after her. She has done well today as it wasn’t the plan (to do what she did), but there was no pace and it was a messy race. She looked a bit chewy early on and she settled into it well.

“She is an elegant filly. That was seven furlongs and we felt we would very much stay at seven and not go back to six furlongs or up to a mile. I wouldn’t want to rush her back from that as it is early enough in the year and she has had a tough enough race, but you have got to be happy with her.

“She showed a good attitude as she hit the front and then she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to be doing, but she worked at it. Yyan (Moore) had the rail and that is a big advantage to these inexperienced fillies as to who has the rail, but she managed to win so good on her.”

Spanish in position under Probert

David Probert got his timings right from the front aboard Spanish Voice, who set up a potential tilt at a Derby trial with victory in the bet365 EBF “Confined” Novice Stakes.

Having steered debutant High Stock to glory for Classic winning handler Balding earlier on the card the Welsh rider was at it again aboard the son of Lope De Vega in the mile and a quarter prize.

There was no hesitation about the tactics Probert was to employ aboard the 7-2 chance after sending him into an early lead, which he continued to stretch mid-race.

As most of his rivals started coming under a ride, Probert still held a commanding advantage aboard the Saeed Suhail-owned colt as the race entered the final quarter of a mile.

And although the pack closed significantly late on Spanish Voice, who holds entries in the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dante Stakes and Group One Betfred Derby, managed to prevail by half a length to give Probert and Balding their second winner together on the card.

Probert said: “He was quite fresh in the preliminaries and I just wanted to get him into a rhythm as he has got a big stride on him so I let him go forward and find his feet.

“He flicked his ears a couple of times and gave himself a chance at half-way. He was maybe getting a bit lonely in the last furlong, but he found a bit more when they came to him so he is obviously quite talented and he galloped out really well.

“He had to find sharpish, but he answered every question."

Following the race Spanish Voice was trimmed into 40/1 from 66/1 by Paddy Power for the Betfred Derby and Probert believes he wouldn’t look out of place in a trial for the race.

Probert added: “He has got some nice entries so hopefully he can prevail and keep on improving and have an exciting career.

“He is in the Dante, but I will leave that up to Andrew and the owner, whether that will come too soon, but mentally he will grow up for today’s experience.”

Ten Pounds on the money for Charlton

Harry Charlton might be facing a dilemma as to where his fast rising star Cosmic Year will end up, but a trip to Royal Ascot is very much on the cards for Ten Pounds.

The Ten Sovereigns gelding made it four wins from just six career starts with a front running victory in the Watch Live Racing At bet365 Handicap.

And following the neck success Charlton hinted that an outing in the Victoria Cup at Ascot could be next on the agenda ahead of a tilt at the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Charlton said of the 5/1 winner: “When I came here this morning I was a little bit worried it would be too soft, but Doncaster was proper soft, but this was good to soft dead ground.

“I think he could have done with better ground, but he handled it well.

“A retired trainer told me off yesterday for having him too heavy. I think he has filled in as he was a tall angular horse last year and he has got a big backend on him now.

“I just wondered whether he will be a six furlong horse at some point, but Trevor (Whelan) said seven furlongs is fine. He is a more physical horse this year as last year he was quite a baby.

“To do all that off a rating of 99 of not too many runs was quite impressive. We were aiming at the Victoria Cup, and I don’t think the reaction will be too knee jerk, so that could still be an option.

“You are then heading towards Ascot where there is the Buckingham Palace and he will probably get an entry in the Wokingham as well.”

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