Instinct puts in Smart performance
Richard Fahey’s trip to America paid off handsomely with Smart Instinct making it two wins from two starts in the Ripon Horn Blower Conditions Stakes at Ripon.
Fahey bought the Smart Strike gelding in Keeneland and he built on his debut win at Pontefract with a comfortable success in this six-furlong contest.
Only five runners went to post and approaching the final furlong, it became a two-horse race as Tony Hamilton brought Smart Instinct (7-2) to challenge the long-time leader Holdin Foldin.
And with the soft ground not posing a problem, Smart Instinct went right through with his effort to get on top and go two lengths clear.
Fahey said: “It was the first time I had been to the Keeneland Sales and it is nice to have brought something back that can gallop – I think I might go again now!
“I am pleased for his owners (David and Jackie Knaggs) because this horse could be the real thing, though we had to geld him in the spring because he was a playboy.
“There is no badness in him, he just thought it was all a game and we could not do anything with him. I don’t know what we will do now but we will have a look for something a bit better I should think.”
Fahey completed a quick double when Lafontaine Bleu (8-1) made it third time lucky under Dale Gibson in the Ark De Triumph Maiden Auction Stakes.
The field split into two and it looked as if those racing on the stands side were going to get the better of the argument.
However, inside the last quarter-mile those on the far side asserted with Lafontaine Bleu gamely getting the better of Fadeyev by half a length.
Third-placed Woodland Traveller, beaten a further two lengths also raced on the far side, while Reem Al Fallah was first home on the stands side but only fourth overall.
Fahey said: “She is improving and may go for one of the Sales races now.”
