Haggas Equals Lincoln Record as Elliott and Winx Set New Benchmarks.
Addeybb Annihilation in Lincoln
For over 100 years, Jack Robinson held the record amongst trainers for the most wins in the Lincoln Handicap. He now has company at the top. First tasting success in the race with High Low back in 1992, William Haggas joined Robinson on four wins with the victory of Addeybb in the big one at Doncaster on Saturday. And it all looked rather easy.
Settled in a prominent position by James Doyle, it became clear some way out that the horse sporting the yellow and black silks of Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum was travelling all over his 19 rivals. Bounding clear a furlong from home, he appeared to win this with a fair bit up his sleeve.
Lord Glitters produced his usual power packed finish to fill the runners up spot under top weight, but Addeybb never looked like being caught, coming home 2¾l clear in the end. It will surely be a Group class contest which is next on the agenda for the son of Pivotal.
Wonder-Mare Winx On Top Of The World
The flat racing season may just be kicking off in Britain, but our friends on the other side of the world have been ticking over for a while now, and on Saturday Australia’s equine queen took to the track once again as Winx lined up for the George Ryder Stakes.
The Chris Waller trained daughter of Street Cry may not have been quite as visually impressive as she has been in the past, but the end result was the same as she saw off Happy Clapper for a ¾l success. There was however something more than a little significant about this victory. It wasn’t that it was her third consecutive George Ryder, nor that this race represented her 24th victory in a row.
What was special about this triumph is that it was her 17th Group 1 win. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. So many in fact that it’s a new world record, overcoming the total of 16 set by US runner John Henry set in 1984.
Elliott On The Up At Downpatrick
Hot on the heels of being crowned the Champion Trainer at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, the unstoppable Gordon Elliott express train rolled into Downpatrick on Sunday afternoon. By the time the train had departed for its next destination, another record was in the books.
Gordon Elliott equalled the record for number of winners in an Irish season last term when matching the Willie Mullins total of 193. Elliott now has the record to himself. Headed into the Downpatrick card on a total of 191, wins for Percy, Isodon and Poormans Hill, the Elliott total now stands at 194 and counting.
Flat Takes Centre Stage In Weekend Action
Saturdays big race on a global scale comes over in Meydan with the 2018 edition of the Dubai World Cup. With the small matter of $10 million in total prize money up for grabs, the big guns will certainly be out in force. Third to Gun Runner in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and second to the same horse in the Pegasus World Cup, it is Bob Baffert’s West Coast who heads the betting this year. With no Gun Runner to contend with – that horse has now been retired – he looks to boast every chance.
On home soil the main event comes at Lingfield Park with its all-weather finals day lighting up Good Friday once again. The Sprint looks to be a cracker this year with the likes of Kachy, Kimberella and Gifted Master set to lock horns.
