THE Group 3 Unibet Geoffrey Freer Stakes went to Martyn Meade’s Technician, ridden by Rob Hornby, who left a disappointing effort in the Gordon Stakes behind to outstay warm favourite Morando (Andrew Balding/Silvestre de Sousa) in receipt of a hefty 12lb, with fellow St Leger entrant Durston (David Simcock/Jamie Spencer) third, some six lengths away.
The winner was the first off the bridle, but having been switched to the outside in the straight, he showed that stamina is his strong suit by grinding down the runner-up in the final furlong. Durston travelled best of all, but found little off the bridle, and perhaps found his stamina stretched in the soft ground.
The winner is likely to head to Doncaster, but while the extra yardage is likely to help him, the fact can’t be escaped that he has run in three recognised classic trials this season, and has come up short each time, so he will have something to prove even on the back of this improved display.
THE Group 2 Hungerford Stakes, again sponsored by the ubiquitous Unibet, was missing Space Traveller as the ground turned soft on the eve of the contest.
The going may also have played a part in the disappointing efforts of Hey Gaman and Sir Dancealot, but it produced a worthy winner in Charlie Appleby’s Glorious Journey, who battled well to hold off the persistent challenge of Librisa Breeze (Dean Ivory/Joey Haynes), with favourite Safe Voyage running another solid race on his preferred surface for John Quinn and Jason Hart.
Glorious Journey won both his juvenile starts at up to seven furlongs, but his only run at this trip in a disappointing three-year-old season came when tried in blinkers in the Jersey Stakes. Gelded before his return, he has looked more professional this season, and despite a couple of decent efforts over six furlongs, he showed that this was his ideal distance when forcing Limato to pull out the stops in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket in June. He reinforced that notion here, travelling well, but having to battle when joined by the revitalised runner-up, and he needed to stay every yard of this trip to withhold the persistent challenge of Librisa Breeze.
Glorious Journey is entered in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, but it came as no surprise to hear Charlie Appleby talk about a bid for the Prix de La Forêt at ParisLongchamp on ‘Arc’ weekend, that Group 1 prize the most prestigious run over seven furlongs in Europe.
Glorious Journey and James Doyle (left) winning the Unibet Hungerford Stakes from Librisa Breeze (Joey Hayes) at Newbury \ Healy Racing
Dan dazzles on grey day at Newmarket
AS is the case before most of the major summer festivals, last week was a low-key one, evidenced by the fact that the most heavily promoted contest – the Unibet Grey Horse Handicap at Newmarket – was a Class 4 event which could just as easily have taken place on a midweek meeting at Bath.
That said, the concept is a popular one, and not a bad way to present the sport to new faces, including children, for whom the spectacle is certainly attractive.
In terms of quality, the greys’ race is eminently forgettable, but the win of Dazzling Dan in the 0-105 handicap later on the card was notable. Pam Sly’s tough and progressive three-year-old appeals as the type to keep developing as he matures, and could well be winning group races next year, which would be another blow struck for the senior set, with Sly turning 76 last month, and in her 45th year with a licence.