Five-strong Fahey strikes gold
Richard Fahey’s mob-handed policy paid handsome dividends in the 48th John Smith’s Cup when he pulled off a famous one-two in the big York handicap.
The trainer saddled five of the 17 runners and watched Charlie Tokyo, ridden by his 3lb apprentice Jamie Moriarty, take the spoils from Flying Clarets.
Collateral Damage, also trained in Malton by Tim Easterby, was third to complete a clean sweep for Yorkshire.
Fahey also sent out the fifth Smart Instinct, while another of his, Avoriaz, refused to race after going barely 50 yards.
Flying Clarets and Fahey’s other runner Fortunate Isle set the early pace but while the latter faded to finish 13th, the former took a clear lead early in the straight.
Charlie Tokyo appeared in his slipstream, however, pulling the proverbial ton.
Moriarty hung onto his mount until a furlong out when he popped the question and Charlie Tokyo (11-1) swept into the lead to win by half a length.
The game Flying Clarets (16-1) was three and a half lengths clear of Collateral Damage (11-1), with Greek Well (6-1 joint-favourite) fourth.
Fahey, winning the race for a second time after Vintage Premium in 2002, said: “It was a great race for me to watch. With great respect I wouldn’t have picked these two out of the five, but I’m delighted.
“I never felt at any stage that Charlie Tokyo was going to down tools. Jamie gets on well with the horse. He won on him at Windsor last year and wanted to ride him as he believed in him.
“I’ve never seen him travel as well as that, but to be fair to the mare she might have battled back had he gone on sooner. It’s a good result for the whole yard.”
Moriarty, 22, said: “I settled well early and they went a nice pace. It helped they were picking up all the way and they led me all the way there.
“I didn’t want to disappoint him and I daren’t sit on him any longer. I let him take a couple of lengths out of them. He idled a little bit close home but he’d done enough.”
Of his other runners, Fahey added: “Neil Callan felt Smart Instinct got stuck in the mud. I was very disappointed with Avoriaz. He was on his best behaviour and went down without a problem. Refusing to race was the last thing I expected him to do.”
Easterby said of Collateral Damage: “He’s run a cracker. I’ll step him up to a mile and a half now.”
There was quick compensation for Easterby when Countdown (6-1), ridden by David Allan, wore down Imperial Echo to win the John Smith’s Extra Smooth Stakes by half a length.
“I told David to ride him as he needs a bit of knowing whereas Game Lad is straight forward,” the handler explained.
“I’ve been running him in sprint races and I don’t know why now and he loves this ground.”
