Ascot Wednesday
YASHIN (Michael Bell/Callum Shepherd), bought out of Jessica Harrington’s yard for 80,000 gns in the autumn, gave new connections an immediate return when denying the hat-trick seeking Coltrane in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot’s Trials day on Wednesday, scoring by a length at 11/1.
Yashin was wearing a tongue tie having undergone wind surgery prior to this debut effort for Bell, and the visor he wore last season for Harrington was dispensed with. He looked like playing second fiddle to Coltrane when that one led going well early in the straight, but the two-time Sagaro winner couldn’t match the finishing pace of Yashin, who had previously won the one-and-three-quarter-mile Saval Beg Stakes when trained in Ireland. The winner is entered up in the Chester Cup, for which he will get a penalty, but would still look fairly treated on this effort.
The winning rider said: “He’s a new recruit to the yard and was well-ready for this. I thought Coltrane set a very good standard but perhaps on the day we were a bit better. He did everything right - he relaxed off a slow tempo and ultimately did it really well.”
BIG Mojo (Mick Appleby/Tom Marquand) was all out to hold on in the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot on Wednesday, a race registered as the Pavilion Stakes.
Making his seasonal bow, Big Mojo looked set to score comfortably when quickening to lead at the furlong pole, but the 4/1 chance began to hang left as he found the lack of a run telling on his first try at six furlongs, and had just enough in hand to repel the challenge of Diablo Rojo by half a length, with Ain’t Nobody another three-parts of a length behind in third.
Despite this being a trial for the Commonwealth Cup, the winning trainer nominated the King’s Stand Stakes as a more appropriate target.
Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Appleby said: “I would think that would be the way we’re thinking. It is always the concern when you’ve got a decent two-year-old and at home he’d been working really well against some of the older horses, so we’re delighted with him.”
Owner Paul Teasdale added: “The older horses wouldn’t scare us, he’s an unusual horse and we know from the Breeders’ Cup that he’s got so much speed. He’s got as much speed as he needs. We’re entered in both and it’s a nice position to be in. We’ll take today and see where we are, and Mick will make the right decision.”
THE 5/1 shot Sardinian Warrior (John and Thady Gosden/Kieran Shoemark) took another step up the ladder when beating favourite Docklands by half a length to land the Listed Paradise Stakes.
Blacktype
Winner of a handicap at Southwell in November, Sardinian Warrior gained his first blacktype with a game success on his reappearance and turf debut, and will now have bigger targets in the summer, with the Lockinge and Queen Anne Stakes possible options.
Sardinian Warrior led well over a furlong out by then had to battle to get the better of Docklands, who pursued him doggedly to the line, with the pair pulling four and a quarter lengths clear of Checkandchallenges.
Shoemark said: “He’s a really talented horse. It was his first day on the grass and it eked out some more improvement.
“He’s got lots of ability and was just about ready for today’s outing and I think he’ll come on plenty. I think he’s a solid miler.”
Rest of the card
WISE Approach (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) looks a contender for the Royal Meeting having won a well-contested Two-Year-Old Trial Stakes on the card. A seven-figure purchase as a yearling by Godolphin, the half-brother to leading juvenile Perfect Power (Norfolk Stakes winner) showed signs of inexperience before staying on strongly to get the better of some promising sorts, several of which had already shown winning form. His SP was 16/5.
Appleby and Buick doubled up when Victory Queen took the three-year-old fillies’ novice contest on the programme.