Ascot Saturday
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup
RYAN Moore returned to the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup after a 20-year absence and made the afternoon his own, riding a double, collecting the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle and helping Great Britain & Ireland to overall victory at Ascot.
The home team finished on 81 points, 19 clear of Hong Kong and Europe, who shared second on 62, but the debuting Hong Kong side ensured the contest had real bite by winning the first two races and briefly threatening to run away with the cup.
The opening Dash gave the new team a perfect start, with Ollie Sangster’s 4/1 chance Tuco Salamanca (Jerry Chau/Hong Kong) produced from off the pace to beat Gold Star Hero, ridden by Hong Kong captain Vincent Ho, by a length and a half.
That one-two gave Hong Kong a flying start over Great Britain & Ireland, who failed to score any points, and the early leaderboard reflected the surprise: Hong Kong 27, GB&I 0.
Ferraris doubles advantage
Luke Ferraris then made it two from two for Hong Kong in the Stayers, delivering 17/2 shot Dancing In Paris (Ian Williams) with a well-timed challenge after securing a run inside the final furlong.
The winner foiled a gamble on the Moore-ridden Shrimp Shady, and Ferraris was later awarded the Dubai Duty Free Ride Of The Day for his efforts. After two races, Hong Kong had established a commanding position, leading Great Britain & Ireland by 42 points to 12.
The home side started their fightback in the Challenge, where 13/2 winner Asgard’s Captain (Ryan Moore/Great Britain & Ireland) stuck on gamely to beat Sportingsilvermine (James Owen/Yutaka Take) by a length and a quarter.
Dylan Cunha’s charge was not flashy but notably willing, and Moore’s typically measured ride changed the complexion of the competition. Hong Kong still held the lead at that stage, but the gap had narrowed sharply to 48-31.
Sprint and Classic
Saffie Osborne, captaining Great Britain & Ireland, landed a crucial blow in the Sprint on 2/1 joint-favourite Red Spells Danger (Tim Easterby), who had twice been beaten by runner-up Thunder Call (William Haggas/Jerry Chau) but justified market confidence and gave Osborne her first points of the afternoon, while also putting the home side into the lead for the first time. With four races gone, Great Britain & Ireland were ahead of Hong Kong, 56-50.
Moore then effectively settled matters in the Classic, producing Archers Bay (Marco Botti) for a decisive three-and-a-quarter-length success over King Of Berkshire (Andrew Balding/Christophe Lemaire), who shaded Baltic Fleet (Ian Williams/Jerry Chau) for minor honours and precious points.
The 5/2 2nd favourite had contested the Italian Derby earlier in the season and looked the class act on the day, travelling strongly before putting the race away with something to spare. Hong Kong still had a mathematical chance going into the finale, but Great Britain & Ireland had stretched their lead to 71-59.
Europe’s too little, too late
Europe had the final say in the Mile, with 10/1 chance Crown Board (Jane Chapple-Hyam/Frida Valle-Skar) sweeping clear of teammate Bullet Point (Christophe Lemaire) to give the French-based Norwegian rider a first winner in Britain.
The Hong Kong team were three-handed in the finale but could finish no closer than sixth to see the competition slip away tamely after such a promising start. Meanwhile, Ryan Moore’s third-place finish on Ozat (Ian Williams) confirmed his win in the Silver Saddle ahead of Christophe Lemaire, with his final haul 47pts.
The ultimate score between the teams was Great Britain & Ireland 81, Hong Kong 62, Europe 62, with the Rest of The World bringing up the rear on 39 points.
Newmarket Saturday
THE Group 3 Newsells Park Stud Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday saw victory go to 11/1 chance Sugar Yes Please (Eve Johnson Houghton/Charlie Bishop).
The daughter of Mohaather is owned and bred by Marc Middleton-Heath and was doubling her tally as she quickened late to overhaul the 6/4 market leader Nuit d’Eclair (Kevin Philippart de Foy/) by half a length.
Not only did Johnson Houghton train the winner’s dam, Alezan, for Middleton-Heath but Mohaather was bred by her mother Gaie to complete a remarkable picture.
Alezan was just a fair performer but has produced an exciting filly in the shape of Sugar Yes Please, who holds entries in the Rockfel Stakes and the Fillies’ Mile in the autumn.
“We thought Sugar Yes Please would appreciate the step up in trip,” said Eve Johnson Houghton.
“She just had to learn to settle in her races, which she did today.
“At the furlong pole, the owner was screaming for a gap and when it came, she showed a lovely turn of foot.
“We came here looking for blacktype; you don’t know who you’re taking on, so it’s never easy, but we don’t mind coming here and having a bash,” she added.
Around The Tracks
ON a low-key weekend there were no runners in Britain for the O’Brien clan, but there was still the usual smattering of success for Irish trainers, with Newbridge handler Andrew Kinirons saddling his first flat winner in Britain courtesy of 11/2 winner Patrick Street (Mikey Sheehy) in a classified contest at Ayr on Saturday. The winner turned out again at Hamilton on Tuesday but was unplaced.
Kinirons is not a total stranger to success across the Irish Sea having landed a valuable handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last spring with Lagoon Nebula.
Another Irish trainer to hit the mark last week was Curragh handler John O’Donoghue, who saddled Eastern Queen (Donagh Murphy) to land a six-fulong fillies’ maiden at Chepstow last Sunday. The 11/4 shot got up in the final strides to score by a short head in the colours of O’Donoghue’s wife Jodi. The couple took over at the storied Currabeg Stables – home to the likes of Ridgewood Pearl and Sea The Stars - following the retirement of John Oxx in 2020.