DONCASTER SATURDAY
ON a very good day for trainer Ian Williams, who also won the featured hurdle at Wincanton, Saunter claimed the Betfred November Handicap on the final day of the turf flat season at Doncaster.
Well-backed, the 6/1 chance came wide of the pack for Jim Crowley to lead inside the final furlong and prove just over a length too good for Chelsea Lad, with Eddystone Rock and long-time leader Storm King (66/1) occupying the minor places.
Saunter, a French-bred, has an interesting past. Originally owned by Qatar Racing, he changed hands and was trained by David Menuisier when moving to Britain. However, his form dipped this year and he joined Williams quite recently, finishing a promising second at Newmarket before winning well last week.
“I thought Jim gave him a great ride,” the trainer said. “He looked to be struggling two out but picked up and galloped to the line. We have great options with him now; he could go jumping or there’s Dubai. The world is his oyster.”
CROWLEY TREBLE
The Listed Betfred Mobile Wentworth Stakes over six furlongs looked very hard this year with several talented handicappers moving up in class.
One of them, Mick Easterby’s Perfect Pasture, finished a good second but could not hold Sir Michael Stoute’s Dream Of Dreams, who mastered him a furlong out and scored by a length with Danzeno and Teruntum Star next.
The middle leg of a prestigious treble for Crowley, Dream Of Dreams was winning at listed level for the first time. Not as busy as some in recent weeks, he is only three and clearly appreciates soft ground. Interestingly, he was reversing form from a year ago with 7/2 favourite Sir Dancelot (fifth this time), the latter probably needing an extra furlong these days. It looked a good race and Dream Of Dreams should come on again, although no plans were announced.
Crowley may have relinquished his title but he made his point last year and the job with Hamdan Al Maktoum, together with many other attractive links, has made this another highly successful campaign.
His Saturday treble was initiated by William Haggas’ 100/30 chance Tallow in the second division of the six-furlong maiden for two-year-olds. A Kodiac filly, Tallow carries the colours of the Cheveley Park Stud and accounted for some well-bred colts.
STAR FOR MCDONALD
P J McDonald is another to have made hay in 2017 and moved on to a career-best total of 114 when Hughie Morrison’s Star Rock proved too good for 2/1 favourite Vintage Folly in the Listed Gillies Fillies’ Stakes over 10 furlongs.
Vintage Folly, lightly raced and a former Oaks fancy, will never have a better chance than this. Rated 16lbs higher than the winner, she led over two furlongs out but came under strong pressure and went down by three-parts of a length as Star Rock, 5/1, kept on gamely.
Morrison’s filly, ultra-consistent, had tried a mile and three-quarters but the trainer had no worries about dropping back in trip.
David Elsworth’s former Victoria Cup winner Speculative Bid, 7/1, defied 9st 10lb in the Betfred “Supports Jack Berry House” Handicap over seven furlongs, just denying Ian Williams’ Shady McCoy by a neck. The stage looks set for a successful campaign on the all-weather, possibly leading to Championships day at Lingfield in the spring.