Newbury Saturday

WHAT quality action there was last weekend, centred on Newbury’s meeting last Saturday and, despite small fields for the two pattern races on the card, the crowd got their money’s worth, particularly in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes where the first four home were separated by less than half a length, or 0.07 seconds for the modernists.

Early leader Popmaster, racing alone in the centre of the track, was pursued by English Oak and the pair held those positions until just over a furlong from home, but the race changed dramatically from that point, with the pace-setters weakening and the hold-up horses coming through strongly.

Kikkuli hit the front briefly inside the last furlong, but Tiber Flow (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) tackled and passed him soon after, challenged all the time by 2023 winner Witch Hunter (Richard Hannon/Jamie Spencer) on his outside, while all the time Jumby (Eve Johnson Houghton/William Buick) sought a passage up the stands’ rail.

This trio lunged for the line together, with Kikkuli inches behind, and the result was that 4/1 shot Tiber Flow won by a nose from Witch Hunter, with the luckless Jumby a short-head behind in third in a finish befitting the race’s status.

Remarkable

The winner had made a remarkable comeback having been brought down in a shocking incident at York in May, as Maureen Haggas remembered.

“I thought Tiber Flow was dead at York,” she admitted. “It was awful. I took my shoes off and ran down the track and he came cantering past me with his ears pricked. We saw him in the stables afterwards and it didn’t seem to bother him. He’s the most extraordinary horse.

“He must be hard as nails. He ran the next time at Haydock and pushed his way out to get the win. He’s absolutely brilliant - I couldn’t be more proud of him - he’s such a star. He wants to win, which is a hard trait to find it in a lot of horses.”

ON what was an excellent day for William Haggas, standard-bearer Al Aasy once again showed how well his trainer places his horses by picking up a sixth career success at Group 3 level. The popular gelding needs to be produced late and was suited by the way this race was run, with runner-up Al Qareem (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee) allowing Sumo Sam to lead until going on early in the straight.

Having taken over three furlongs out, Al Qareem was challenged and passed by Go Daddy, and Jim Crowley must have been happy to observe the others swapping the lead as it made his job easier on the even-money favourite. Waiting until the furlong marker, Crowley eased his mount to the lead and didn’t need to get serious as Al Aasy coasted to a two-length win over a rallying Al Qareem, who repassed Go Daddy in the last 50 yards to claim minor honours.

Explaining the fairly quick return after winning the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood a fortnight earlier, Maureen Haggas said: “He’s seven years old and it’s time to get to work really. It was a good pace today, which he enjoys.

“He’s always been talented and has probably been better since being gelded. He’s run over all sorts of trips, from a mile and a quarter up to a mile and five furlongs. He used to be very keen at home [and] can still be strong when he wants to.”

Newmarket Saturday

ON a quiet Saturday at Newmarket, the highlight was the novelty contest which is the Grey Horse Handicap, a race of little significance but some marketing appeal as everyone loves a grey.

This year’s race was run by 10/1 chance Archduke Ferdinand (Seb Spencer/Alex Jary), a rather darker shade than those who chased him home. Perhaps there should be a penalty system in this race depending on just how close to white the horses are - one for the Great British Racing there.

The most interesting race on the card was the two-year-old novice which followed, and it produced a taking winner in the Hamad Al Jehani-trained Defence Minister (Saffie Osborne), who looked green and didn’t get a clear run through the race, but showed plenty of talent to weave through runners to win by three-quarters of a length. He has no group entries, but looks a good prospect for the Wathnan Racing team.

The mile and three-quarter fillies’ handicap was won by Gavin Cromwell’s Sixandahalf, (Robert Whearty) who scored by a length and a half from Cabrera with the pair well clear.

The progressive four-year-old has entries in both the Cesarewitch and Irish Cesarewitch.