Cool Ghazal stars at Leicester
Al Ghazal looks yet another high-ranking Godolphin two-year-old judged by his success in the ladbrokes.com Squirrel Conditions Stakes at Leicester.
Sent off an even-money favourite for the three-runner mile-and-a-quarter race, the son of Motivator made all to come home unchallenged in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “I was disappointed that there was such a small field as he’s a very big horse and won’t have learned much.
“It was only his third ever race and he’s improving all the time.
“He should be just as effective over a mile or at today’s distance and there are several options open to him.
“He’ll probably have one more run this year and will move up in grade.”
The beginning of October has been tinged with tragedy for Henry Candy, but the victory of Speedy Guru may do something to ease the passing of star sprinter Corrybrough.
Candy sent out Corrybrough to win a string of valuable races last year and was preparing him for an end-of-season target when he sustained a serious injury on the gallops.
Speedy Guru will never be of that horse’s class, and could even have run her last race in the ladbrokescasino.com Fillies’ Handicap, but at least it provided Candy with some solace.
The 10-1 chance was ably handled by Amy Scott to beat Gower Valentine by a head.
Candy said: “It was a terrible blow losing a horse of Corrybrough’s calibre.
“It was a serious breakdown and there was no alternative but to have the horse put down.
“He was a great servant to the yard and will be hard to replace.”
Commenting on Speedy Guru, Candy added: “I thought Amy gave her a tremendous ride and is really coming of age.
“She is great value for her 7lb and this filly is not the most straightforward of rides.
“Speedy Guru was bred by Bob Urquhart and bought from him.
“But it could be that he’ll take her back now to breed from her.”
Odds-on backers of Highland Glen came close to not getting a run in the ladbrokes.com Quorn Handicap, before which it took seven stalls handlers to get Michael Stoute’s gelding into the gates.
However, Ryan Moore quickly had the 1-2 shot into a healthy lead and although challenged by Souter Point, the combination had enough in hand to grimly hang on by half a length.
It was a deal easier for John Gosden’s 1-4 chance Euston Square as he came home a ready winner of the ladbrokes.com Dormouse Maiden Stakes in the hands of Jimmy Fortune.
Michael Squance is doing well with Averoo, who made it two wins from his last three starts in the ladbrokes.com Apprentice Handicap.
The opening EBF ladbrokes.com Maiden Fillies’ Stakes went to Marie De Medici, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Joe Fanning.
The filly got the better of a battle with Faithful One, with Boogie Diva staying on in third.
