Flying Fanshawe at the double
In-form trainer James Fanshawe continued his hot streak with a 5-1 double at Newmarket provided by Zidane and Caressed.
Fanshawe has enjoyed a week to remember, firing in three winners at Royal Ascot and another trio of successes on the July Course.
Rhinebird struck for him at his home track on Friday night and Zidane – now to be targeted at the Stewards’ Cup – kept the ball rolling after emphatically winning the six-furlong Play 24/7 At VC Casino.com Handicap.
Held up towards the rear by jockey Oscar Urbina for much of the contest, a gap appeared for the 2-1 favourite just over a furlong out.
The four-year-old son of Danzero needed only to be asked the question by Urbina before skipping clear to score by two lengths for his second victory of the season.
Fanshawe said: “It’s been a wonderful week. I thought we were coming back down to earth when he had a couple of favourites that were beaten here on Friday but Zidane has done it really nicely.
“It’s taken him a while but he’s getting it all together now.
“He’s progressing and we will probably now look toward the Stewards’ Cup (on August 5 at Goodwood).”
Caressed, sent off at even-money, completed the second leg of the double for Fanshawe and Urbina in the VC Casino.com EBF Fillies’ Handicap.
The Medicean filly, successful on her previous start at Beverley, made it two wins from three outings when coming around the field to claim the mile-long contest by a length from Lucky Token.
Fanshawe, who later saw his charge Firenze finish second in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, said: “I was pleased that there was a nice bit of pace in the race, which enabled Caressed to settle.
“She is a filly I’ve always liked and we will now see what the handicapper does before deciding what might be next for her.”
Henry Cecil is another Newmarket trainer in decent form and he may have a high-class prospect on his hands if the evidence of Multidimensional’s debut in the Play Roulette At VC Casino.com Maiden Stakes is anything to go by.
The first foal out of Sacred Song, who Cecil trained to win the 2001 Lancashire and Yorkshire Oaks, was the paddock pick and did not disappoint on the racecourse.
Someone knew as he was sent off at 10-1 and the three-year-old son of Danehill settled the matter with a striking turn of foot just inside the final furlong after earlier tracking the leaders.
“He’s got a little bit about him,” said Cecil after the three-and-a-half-length win.
“He did that nicely. I was going to run him in the spring in either the Wood Ditton or a maiden at Newbury.
“But he had very bad sore shins and it has taken up to now to get rid of them. I am very pleased for his owners, the Niarchos family, who have been very patient.”
The seven-furlong juvenile maiden, sponsored by VC Casino.com, saw a titanic struggle fought out up front between Halicarnassus and Norisan.
The duo slugged it out for virtually the entire race and, after they’d gone toe-to-toe through the final strides, the judge was unable to split them and called a dead-heat.
Gary Woodward, who trains near Doncaster, hailed the best winner of his career after Moorhouse Lad obliged at 9-1 in the £20,000 Play VC Casino.com Handicap.
The Bertolini colt was held up tracking the leaders by Jimmy Quinn before coming to collar Gilt Linked just inside the final furlong.
Moorhouse Lad stuck to his task gamely when out in front and held the late thrust of favourite King Orchisios to win by half a length.
Woodward said: “We always thought he was a nice horse and before he broke his maiden tag I ran him in a Listed race, so I’m glad he’s won here to prove that I wasn’t wrong to do that.
“This is the biggest winner I’ve trained and he’s the nicest horse I’ve ever trained.
“He might come back here next Friday for a race.”
Jockey George Baker’s trip to Newmarket for one ride proved worthwhile as he booted home Cape Of Luck in the opening VC Casino.com Handicap.
But Baker had to really work hard for his riding fee on the 25-1 top weight, who started to hang right over one furlong out.
Even inside the closing 200 yards – with Baker pulling his whip through to his right hand – the Cape Cross colt swerved to the left before finally triumphing by a neck from Carmenero.
The final race on the card, the 15-furlong Play Blackjack At VC Casino.com Handicap saw Haatmey knuckle down to emerge successful by a head after a gruelling battle with Dubai Ace.
