DONCASTER friday

THE Group 2 Wainwrights Flying Childers Stakes was billed as a match between Havana Grey and Heartache and so it proved, though it was the filly Heartache at 6/4 who got up close home for Ryan Moore to deny Karl Burke’s even-money favourite by half a length. May Girl was some way back in third.

Karl Burke’s Havana Grey is very fast indeed and was soon showing the way towards the stands’ side while the filly still had a couple to pass on the opposite flank. However, all the early races indicated that challenging on that side might be favourable. Havana Grey was still in front passing the furlong pole but, as the pair came together down the centre of the track, Heartache proved too strong and was well in control crossing the line.

Clive Cox has had several very speedy horses and Heartache is clearly another one, though the Cheveley Park over six furlongs will probably be preferred to the Prix de l’Abbaye against older horses on Arc day. She is leased by The Hot To Trot Syndicate, whose members were out in force and gave her a rapturous welcome on her return to the unsaddling enclosure.

Without making excuses, Cox mentioned a pulled muscle following Heartache’s third in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin and she had enjoyed a rest since then.

“I was worried about the ground when they said it might be heavy earlier in the week but it was all right in the end. She is very speedy and quite special,” the trainer said.

Heartache received 3lb from Havana Grey but Adam Kirby cannot quite make 8st 12lb so Moore stepped in.

“I thought she did very well,” Moore said. “The second is a very high-class colt and was second in the Prix Morny. I also think there’s more in the locker for her.”

ANOTHER ONE FOR MCDONALD

These are heady times for P J McDonald, who won a Scottish Grand National once upon a time but landed the gamble of the day here as Mark Johnston’s Time To Study, 11/8 favourite backed down from 4/1, just held Moore and Byron Flyer in a desperate set-to at the end of the William Hill Mallard Handicap over the St Leger distance.

Penglai Pavilion led at an even gallop but was soon spent in the home straight as Time To Study, third at Haydock last week, moved up to take over. Byron Flyer, second three times in a row and sporting cheekpieces for the first time, eased alongside going much the better but lacked the winner’s determination. Even though McDonald lost a rein in the dying strides, Time To Study would not be denied and kept on gamely to prevail by inches.

“This horse is very tough and was flat-out from three furlongs out. Things are going very well for me at present and long may it continue,” McDonald said. “There are plenty of very talented riders in the weigh-room but it’s great to be taking part on the biggest days.”

Time To Study was not stopping at the end and some firms clipped him to 14/1 for the Cesarewitch.

The opening Listed Weatherbys Bank Foreign Exchange Flying Scotsman Stakes went to 11/2 chance Tip Two Win, who had to prove himself on softer ground and the longer trip of seven furlongs. He did it in style, coming on the wide outside in the closing stages to take control for Adam Kirby and beat Tigre Du Terre by a couple of lengths with Aqabah close up in third.

This was a big moment for Epsom trainer Roger Teal, who has very few horses of this standard through his hands and was understandably delighted.

“He ran a smashing race when second at Ripon because the course didn’t really suit him. I was a bit worried about the ground today but I thought he’d stay. He’s a little superstar and it’s unbelievable,” the trainer said.

EXPERIENCE

There were several well-bred newcomers from powerful yards in the Gary Reid Memorial Stakes over a mile and Godolphin’s Dubawi colt Ghaiyyath was made a prohibitively short 6/5 favourite.

However, a good day for Clive Cox and Adam Kirby became even better as 16/1 shot Blue Laureate, far and away the most experienced with three runs under his belt and the only gelding in the line-up, proved too good for Sha La La La Lee with Ghaiyyath only third.

Any argument about the place to be in shorter races was effectively settled by top-weight Amazour in the Lakeside Village Outlet Shopper Handicap. Ismail Mohammed’s 9/2 chance, equipped with first-time cheekpieces, used more or less the same favoured strip of ground towards the far side to outpoint recent Haydock winner Muntadab in a driving finish.

TREBLE FOR MOORE

Favourite and forecast backers had no complaints at the end of a marathon eight-race programme when Moore completed his hat-trick on Sir Michael Stoute’s 9/4 market leader Pivoine in the Coopers Marquees Classified Stakes. His closest attendant at the line was Lawless Secret, 11/4, and the pay-out queues looked rather impressive.