Passionate about NH & Flat Racing. I’m Steve Mullington from Rochdale. My racing blog on Betfinder is about the ups & downs of a regular punter and sports fan. A place to come to share ideas, tips and of course-friendly banter!
A Maiden No More
I scheduled myself in to cover the action at Haydock Park’s Rose Of Lancaster Carnival over the weekend, and despite the Noah’s Ark-like conditions I encountered, it was quite a decent little meeting on the whole – despite the final day being cancelled due to the state of the ground.
The Friday evening’s card looked nothing special on paper, but what unfolded in the 5.52pm Bet At racingtv.com Fillies’ Handicap was something to savour indeed. The Lisa Williamson-trained Celerity finally shed her maiden tag at the 106th time of asking with a front-running victory under jockey Erika Parkinson.
Coming into Friday’s race the seven-year-old was actually in the unenviable position of being on the longest losing streak in British and Irish racing ever, already surpassing the record previously set by the NH competitor Quixall Crossett.
Parkinson immediately left the rest of the field napping somewhat from the gates as she and Celerity tore off into an early and decisive lead. It turned out to be an absolute masterstroke decision from the 7lb claimer as the pair of them held on for a length-and-a-quarter victory over Dandy’s Gold.
Williamson said after the race: “I’m overwhelmed and proud, it feels like a fairytale. You can never, ever give up hope. It’s the old saying you’ve got to be in it to win it.”
On a personal note, I’ve seen my fair share of winners in the flesh over the years, everything from platers to Classic scorers, but in terms of “feel good” results, Celerity’s Class 5 Handicap maiden win will stick with me forever.
Celerity the Haydock celebrity! pic.twitter.com/7i77oXQ5m3
— Steve Mullington (@mulldog) August 6, 2021
Currie – the Sauce of Shergar Joy!
Nicola Currie’s double at Ascot on Saturday afternoon helped the Ladies team claim the Shergar Cup and earned the Scottish jockey the Silver Saddle award for the leading rider.
Wins aboard Just Hubert in the Stayers race and State of Bliss in the Classic race made sure the famous team-based competition went to the ladies on this occasion.
The Ladies team consisted of Nicola Currie, Hayley Turner (Capt) and Mickaelle Michel.
Results from the six Shergar Cup races of 2021 were as follows:
- Shergar Dash: Tis Marvellous 9/2 JF,
- Shergar Stayers: Just Hubert 11/1,
- Shergar Challenge: Graphite 18/1,
- Shergar Mile: Dashing Roger 5/1 CF,
- Shergar Class: State Of Bliss 9/2
- Shergar Sprint: Mitrosonfire 17/2
Final Standings (points):
- Ladies 69
- Ireland 66
- Great Britain 64
- Rest of the World 53
Silver Saddle (points):
- Nicola Currie 47
- David Egan 29
- James Doyle 27
- Cieren Fallon 27
- Joe Fanning 27
King Power Comes Up Smelling of Roses
On what was a memorable afternoon for King Power Racing, Foxes Tales won the feature Rose Of Lancaster Stakes under Silvestre De Sousa for trainer Andrew Balding.
Already successful earlier in the afternoon aboard Fantastic Fox, De Sousa gave the three-year-old a superb tactical ride in the testing conditions and his odds of 5/4 favourite were duly justified. “He must have a lot of ability as I felt he wasn’t enjoying that ground,” said De Sousa afterwards.
Trainer Andrew Balding, who wasn’t in attendance, indicated that the season-ending Champion Stakes at Ascot is a distinct possibility now for his runner.
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The Gheest Of It
Marianafoot under Mickael Barzalona recorded an eighth straight success and a first at Group 1 level when landing the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday.
In the final furlong, July Cup winner Starman looked the likeliest winner, but Barzalona and Marianafoot accelerated past him with Tropbeau running that one out of second spot too, while the 2017 winner Brando charged home to be fourth.
Trainer Jerome Reynier said: “We’re looking at the Breeders’ Cup Mile at the end of the year as his last race and the Foret would be a good target in between, as long as it isn’t too soft.”
Coming up…
Next Saturday sees the Hungerford Stakes take place at Newbury and at this early juncture I’ll be siding with D’bai for Charlie Appleby.
The York Ebor meeting takes place next week too and my only ante-post bet to date is Glass Slippers e/w @ 10/1 in Friday’s Nunthorpe Stakes.
* Horse racing odds quotes correct at the time of writing. All odds subject to changes.
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