Churchill Repels The Bomber and Selection So Sweet For Hughie
Saturday’s major Group 1 contest came at Newmarket, as the track played host to the 7f Dewhurst Stakes for the two year olds, a race which regularly provides crucial clues ahead of next season’s Classics.
Aidan O’Brien took this last year with the subsequently disappointing Air Force Blue and saddled the hot favourite for this year’s edition with his son of Galileo, Churchill. Not only favourite for this race but also for next seasons 2000 Guineas and Derby, Churchill certainly had a lofty reputation to live up to. He delivered in style.
In a race run at a fierce gallop, a field packed with highly touted, regally bred sorts were all lined up and in with a chance a furlong from home but nothing finished with anything like the resolution of Churchill as he stormed to a 1 ¼l success.
The colt is now a best priced 2/1 for the 2000 Guineas and 8/1 for The Derby. Having recorded a 1-2-3 in the Arc, and a 1-2 in Friday’s Fillies Mile at Newmarket, the unparalleled O’Brien landed another 1-2 here as his Lancaster Bomber ran a real cracker to finish a strong finishing second at 66/1.
Handicap Joy for Morrison
The weekends big handicap contest meanwhile went to the Berkshire yard of Hughie Morrison. Morrison’s four year old filly, Sweet Selection, looked to be pretty well handicapped headed into the 2m2f marathon of the Cesarewitch handicap at HQ, particularly on a line of form with the favourite for the race, St Michel, and won like a good thing in the end.
Backers of the daughter of Stimulation could have been forgiven for feeling less than thrilled at the half way mark, as the filly didn’t appear to be going anywhere fast. Staying is the name of the game here though and heading into the dip it soon became apparent that nothing was staying on as well as Sweet Selection.
Her remorseless, relentless run in the hands of Silvestre De Sousa proved too much for her 32 rivals, and she was pulling away at the end to record an impressive three length success. She disappointed slightly at Group 2 level prior to this run, but on this evidence she looks at least up to scoring at Listed level, which will surely be where she is sighted next.
Jumps Ahoy
October generally marks the crossover point between the racing codes. It will predominantly be the jumping action which takes centre stage from here on in, until the annual jamboree at Cheltenham Festival in March. The flat season isn’t done with quite yet though as a number of this year’s heroes are given a cracking send off at Ascot on Saturday.
Champions Day at the Berkshire venue is undoubtedly one of the late season racing highlights, featuring five Group class contests at distances ranging from 6f to two miles. Almanzor, Found, Minding, Galileo Gold, Quiet Reflection, Meccas Angel and Order Of St George are just some of the possible runners on what is one of the highest class days racing of the year, and a must watch for any racing fan.
