The two day Ladies’ Day meeting kicked off with the only race in the British racing calendar exclusively for apprentice jockeys who are yet to ride a winner. There is a slight loophole, however, which means that jockeys who have ridden a winner between entry stage and the day of the race are still allowed to ride and consequently George Bass, who rode his first career winner at Salisbury a few days earlier, added a second win to his tally on Myklachi for David O’Meara.
Pink Sands went one better than when second on her debut at Windsor, justifying long odds-on favouritism in impressive fashion when taking 5f the Fillies’ Maiden for William Haggas and Liam Jones. It would be no surprise to see her go on and gain some black type later in the season.
The 1m2f Topsport Equisand Fillies’ Handicap went the way of the Richard Fahey-trained Amber Spark, who won in the manner of a progressive filly under Sean Davis. Favourite Moss Gill took the feature race of the night, the ‘Wells Memorial Challenge Trophy Handicap’ with former champion jockey Paul Hanagan on board for James Bethell.
Favourite backers were sent home very happy as Appointed scooted clear of her rivals to win the 1m4f handicap for Tim Easterby and David Allan before the very well supported Abate gained a well deserved first career success for Adrian Nicholls under Andrew Mullen.
Ladies’ Day on Thursday 20th June began with a great tussle in the secretspa.net EBF Novice Stakes with Richard Fahey’s Silver Mission getting up in the closing stages to deny Wetherby debut winner Coastal Mist. The appropriately named Ginvincible landed the Topsport Equisand Handicap for James Given and Barry McHugh, causing rapturous in the Ladies’ Day marquee sponsored by Slingsby Gin!
The impeccably bred Faylaq was backed as if defeat was out of the question for his handicap debut off a mark of 73 in the Slingsby Gin handicap and he duly obliged by 4 1/2 lengths, although he was value for a much greater winning margin. A son of Dubawi and 2011 Pric de L’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream, William Haggas’ colt will likely prove very tough to beat if turning out under a penalty this week and we will not see him competing off a mark of 73 again any time soon.
A very competitive Ladies’ Day Handicap went to Borodin, who gave Richard Fahey a double under Paddy Mathers. Joanna Mason took the Ladies’ Derby Handicap on board Nevada for Steve Gollings and inbetween Lisa Jane Longden was crowned Ripon ‘Best Dressed Lady 2019′. Good luck to Lisa as she goes on to the Yorkshire final at Doncaster in October as our representative.
The Victory of Ruth Carr’s Cupid’s Arrow in the Stray FM Celebrating Ladies’ Day Handicap will live long in the memory of winning jockey Jamie Gormley as he rode out his claim. He was presented with a celebratory bottle of champagne.
The Mark Johnston-trained Stone Cougar took Div I of the Inn at South Stainley Handicap with Connor Beasley on board and Div II was won in hugely impressive fashion by Jedd O’Keeffe’s well supported handicap debutante Theatro, who scored by 7 lengths under Graham Lee.
