A competitive evening of racing began with the ‘Wetherby Racecourse Ladies’ Day 30th May EBF Novice Auction Stakes’ and the Richard Fahey trained filly Three Coins made a very pleasing winning debut, overcoming inexperience to win a shade cosily under Tony Hamilton. With improvement likely, she could be one to keep a close eye on in the coming months.
The ‘Redcar Ladies’ Day Saturday 22nd June Selling Stakes’ went the way of odds-on favourite Izvestia (pictured), who made quite hard work of it but ultimately won with plenty in hand. She attracted plenty of interest in the subsequent auction and was eventually bought in for £13,000.
The Rebecca Bastiman trained and Danny Tudhope ridden Dark Defender ran out a comfortable winner of the ‘New Look Catterick Opens 17th June Handicap’ and he has been raised 6lb for that success to a handicap mark of 89, making the William Hill Great St Wilfrid a possibility later this season.
There was a fitting winner of the ‘Lets All Go Racing in Yorkshire Handicap’ as Canford Bay recorded his second C&D win of the season with Kieran Schofield on board. Winner of the ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’ Apprentice Series in 2018, Schofield is sponsored by Go Racing in Yorkshire and has clearly struck up a good relationship with Antony Brittain’s gelding.
Perhaps the most impressive winner of the evening was Victory Day in the ‘Billy Ocean at Pontefract 24th May Maiden Stakes’. Backed throughout the day as if defeat was out of the question, William Haggas’ three-year-old was eventually sent off a long odds-on favourite and he coasted home to take his trainer’s strike rate at Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse to a remarkable 45% over the least five years. Victory Day also provided Danny Tudhope with a double, taking him to the top of the Ripon jockey standings for 2019.
An ultra-competitive finale, the ‘Everybody Get Up to Beverley Racecourse Handicap’ was won by Grey Mist, completing a superb five timer (four wins on flat and one over hurdles) and maintaining his unbeaten record since joining Karen McLintock. He has been raised 5lb for that success but he might not be done winning just yet.
