Newmarket

Thursday

ROGER Varian’s splendid Newmarket week continued on Thursday when Zabeel Prince landed the Group 3 bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes in decisive fashion from last year’s winner Forest Ranger with Mustashry third.

Still a major force at six, Zabeel Prince (9/2 co-favourite) was steadied by Andrea Atzeni and allowed to lob along at the back as Elarqam made the running. Switched left two furlongs out, he was in front a furlong later and kept on strongly to hold the runner-up by nearly three lengths. The Godolphin pair First Nation and First Contact, both fit from a Meydan campaign, were disappointing in fifth and sixth.

Zabeel Prince is lightly raced and this was only his ninth outing. He may well be capable of even better things and his trainer can do no wrong at present.

“It’s been a great week,” Varian agreed.

“The horses are running very well and this opens up new doors for Zabeel Prince. He may well stay ten furlongs in time but he needs a gap between his races so we’ll have a think about where to go next.”

ATZENI set to miss guineas

Andrea Atzeni, associated with most of Varian’s winners, had scored on Alan King’s Berenger, who got home by a head from Power Of Darkness in the Coates & Seely Brut Reserve Handicap over a mile.

He rode a particularly powerful finish and the stewards took exception to his use of the whip, deeming it to have been used in the wrong place.

They stood him down for six days from May 2nd, which means he misses the Qipco Guineas meeting pending a possible appeal.

It’s an ill wind because his absence would give David Egan a good chance of keeping the ride on 1000 Guineas favourite Qabala, who was impressive in Tuesday’s Nell Gwyn Stakes, where Atzeni rode runner-up Mot Juste.

Emotional win for Fahey and Hamilton

Wednesday was a mixed day for Hollywood superstars; Brando managed only third at Newmarket but Pacino prevailed at Beverley.

However, the latter, trained by Richard Fahey, won the seven-furlong handicap commemorating Laura Barry, who rode for the trainer and partnered 18 winners in all before cancer cruelly claimed her at just 25. She had been due to marry Ben Hamilton the following day and it was Ben’s brother Tony who drove out firmly to the line this week.

“It’s all a little bit emotional, I’m afraid,” Fahey said. “Actually I’m not afraid, I’m delighted. Laura is much missed and was a super girl. It’s not easy making a plan like this but it’s amazing how many times it comes off.”

Wolverhampton gamble fails

Bookmakers were reported to have been breathing a sigh of relief on Tuesday night after a well-backed double at Wolverhampton failed to land.

Co Donegal trainer Charlie Moore had backed Bazzat and Penny Green - his first runners in almost three years – to win “well over six figures” and having initially been priced at 50/1 and 100/1 respectively, the pair went off in their races with SPs of 5/1 and 7s.

However, Bazzat faded up the home straight in the seven furlong handicap to finish seventh, while Penny Green came home the last of 13 runners.