Group races next for Pipemaster
John Gosden has his sights set on Listed and Group prizes next year with Pipedreamer following his success in the totesport.com Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.
Memories of the great Halling were evoked as Pipedreamer hammered the bookies in landing a huge ante-post punt, although Gosden was reluctant to draw comparison with his 1994 winner, who went on to land the Coral-Eclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International.
A victory which cost the bookmaking industry a massive sum was hatched when the Clarehaven trainer looked at the course at 11am and discovered his stick went three to four inches into the turf.
Pipedreamer then became the subject of a big on-course plunge as he was backed in from 8-1 to 5-1 favourite.
Jimmy Fortune was always oozing confidence on the Cheveley Park Stud-owned runner, who made his move over two furlongs out from a position on the edge of the big group which came up the centre of the track.
The combination stormed four lengths clear and already had the big handicap in the bag when the Jamie Osborne-trained Docofthebay emerged from the pack to reduce the deficit to a length at the post.
Gosden admitted he faced a dilemma when continuous drying weather threatened to make conditions too quick for the son of Selkirk.
He said: “I wanted to run for the public but equally I knew the welfare of the horse had to come first. He’d been so hyped-up, and when people are betting £100 or £200 it’s in your mind.”
The trainer added: “Halling was a very progressive horse who won the Eclipse. It’s a long way between this race and the Eclipse and I would think he could go for the Earl Of Sefton Stakes next May.
“He might also come back here at the next meeting as there’s a Listed race over a mile and a quarter.”
Mick Channon has always maintained his faith in Majestic Roi and the filly repaid her trainer many times over when causing an upset in the Group One Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes.
The 16-1 chance had been beaten in lesser races on her most recent outings, but Channon was adamant she had excuses and confirmed the oft-stated belief that funny things can happen with fillies towards the end of the campaign.
It was only inside the final furlong that she got on top under Darryll Holland before pulling three-quarters of a length clear of Nannina, with 11-8 favourite Echelon a further length behind the front two.
“You’ve got to believe in the horses, and she’s a good filly,” said Channon. “Little things have gone wrong, but we’ve always thought a lot of her.
“As long as her owner Jaber Abdullah agrees, she will stay in training next year, as she’s just getting the hang of things.”
However, it will be the end of the road for Cheveley Park Stud flagbearers Nannina and Echelon, who have been a credit to their connections over recent seasons.
Creachadoir served notice he could be a big player on the international stage during the remainder of the year when posting an impressive success on his first start for Godolphin in the Countrywide Steel And Tubes Joel Stakes.
Purchased by his new owners after finishing second in both the French and Irish 2000 Guineas, the former Jim Bolger inmate was in a league of his own when Kerrin McEvoy allowed him an inch of rein in the final furlong, storming home by three lengths from Tell.
Favourite-backers who latched on to Joffe’s Run in the Group Three Finnforest Oh So Sharp Stakes were given a kick in the teeth when the 11-4 chance faded behind 15-2 winner Raymi Coya.
McEvoy excelled on the Marco Botti-trained filly, who came home strongly to score by half a length and a head from Step Softly and Annie Skates.
A stewards’ enquiry followed a tight finish between Talk Of Saafend and Dalkey Girl in the EBF Jersey Lily Fillies’ Nursery but after a short deliberation the placings were allowed to remain unchanged.
