Mafeking strikes Lingfield gold

Mafeking showed he was not inconvenienced by dropping back to a mile by the first time in over three years when landing a last-gasp success in the totetrifecta Flexi Betting Handicap at Lingfield today.

Mafeking showed he was not inconvenienced by dropping back to a mile by the first time in over three years when landing a last-gasp success in the totetrifecta Flexi Betting Handicap at Lingfield today.

Suffolk Punch looked home and hosed after stealing a couple of lengths on the field turning for home, but he folded badly in the final half-furlong.

That let in the never-say-die Mafeking (15-2) to get to the front and register a third course success, winning by a length from Baylini with Layline third and Suffolk Punch only fourth.

“I was worried about the drop back to a mile, but he was the class horse in the race,” trainer Mark Hoad told At The Races.

“He has been running in a lot better class and it was just whether the mile was an inconvenience. He ground it out really well.

“He had a six-month summer holiday before coming back and he’s better on the all-weather, so we’ll keep him on the go until March.

“We’ve got a few more options now and he’s not getting any younger.”

Marcus Tregoning believes he has a useful sort for 2011 in Hawaafez after the Nayef filly landed the odds in the EBF toteswinger Flexi Betting Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Clearly benefiting from a debut third over the course and distance two weeks ago, the 8-11 shot got off the mark in good style under George Baker to win by two lengths from Baisse.

“She’s coming on. She’s a late, backward two-year-old, who looks more like a three-year-old,” said Tregoning.

“She’s been slow to come to hand, she’s very big, that’s all. She’s finished for the year now and hopefully she’ll turn out to be nice staying filly for next year.”

Forty Proof (5-2) just got the better of Liberty Seeker to defy top weight in the totequadpot Nursery.

Shane Kelly brought William Knight’s charge to challenge on the outside but it was hard work as Liberty Green made him fight all the way to the line.

There was just a head between them as they drew three and a half lengths clear of Welsh Inlet in third.

“Shane gave him a bit of cover to make sure he did get it. He’s quite versatile over five and six furlongs,” said Knight.

“He may just hold a little bit back for himself. We’ll probably get him gelded now and put him away for the winter.”

The Dean Ivory-trained Kiss A Prince got a dream passage on the rail to run out a clever winner of the toteexacta Flexi Betting Handicap.

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