Roman Day in Partnership with Via Roma

After the superb efforts of the grounds team meant that racing was given the go-ahead a day prior, Roman Day in partnership with Via Roma proved to be yet another successful Saturday on the Roodee. A competitive Camden Stout Handicap (Class 2) was the feature race of the afternoon at 4:05pm, on a day where sunny spells helped to ensure that ground conditions settled at Good To Soft (Soft in places). 

Race 1 – Via Roma Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4, 3yo+, 7f)

It was a case of ‘easy as you like’ for favourite backers in the first race of the day, a tight four-runner field obliterated in a matter of strides by Marco Ghiani aboard Fair Point (2/5F), bringing home the spoils for trainer Ralph Beckett. Smartly away from the starting stalls, Fair Point challenged for the lead up the inside through the opening half mile, sticking to the rail as Mostar Dreams (9/2) and Hiya Honey (11/2) had their own duel for the lead out wide and Colour Code (33/1) dwelt in rear. Steadily creeping into a more convincing lead around the home turn, Fair Point stretched away from her rivals with the minimum of fuss as the field reached the straight, Mostar Dreams trying her level best to keep up. Now comfortably clear, Marco Ghiani merely had to nudge his mount Fair Point to extend away up the run in and score in emphatic style, coming home a massive 20 lengths clear of Hiya Honey in second. Winning owners The Eclipse Partnership excelled with another talented filly in State Occasion last season (a Listed scorer at Salisbury); we certainly hope Fair Point can follow suit!

Race 2 – British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2, 2yo, 6f)

Almost a carbon copy of the opening race, a tight-knit affair was blown apart in impressive fashion in Race 2, the contest taking in taking style by Columnist (5/2) under a tidy Jack Garrity ride for the Richard Fahey stable. Breaking away quickly from flag-fall, Columnist was sharply into stride under Garrity, leading the way through the early stages ahead of Cabelleroso (3/1) in second place and King Of Angels (9/4F) in third. With the majority of runners coming under stronger pressure towards the three-furlong marker, Columnist still travelled ominously well on the front end, Cabelleroso the only one to keep tabs on the leader as they made their way into the straight. Showcasing a smart turn of foot, Columnist soon had the race settled with just over a furlong to race, blitzing away in fine style to put the race to bed by an easy 4 ¼ lengths at the finish; Cabelleroso and King Of Angels plugged on to come home a well-beaten second and third place respectively. Taking the flat racing discipline by storm last season with the likes of Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami, winning owners Wathnan Racing look to have their string in fine fettle for the 2024 flat season!

Race 3 – Net World Sports 15^th Anniversary Handicap (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m)

In a rip-roaring finish to the third race, a well-timed ride from Jason Watson aboard Animato (12/1) proved to be the winning formula, the David O’Meara trained 5-year-old staying on best of all to score by just ¾ of a length at the line. Always towards the rear, Animato settled into a nice rhythm through the first mile and a half, the field taken along at a modest gallop by Gifted Angel (12/1) in the early stages, ahead of previous course winner Dreams Adozen (11/4F) in second place. Ridden along on the run towards the home turn, Animato made steady progress through the field with a couple of furlongs to negotiate, pursued closely by the well-backed Tigerten (9/2) and Irish raider Rich Belief (8/1) as the runners entered the home straight. As the leaders gradually began to weaken under the increase in tempo, Animato ran on strongly under the Jason Watson drive, forcing his way into a narrow advantage at the half-furlong pole before holding off a staying-on Tigerten and Rich Belief in a tight-bunched finish, with market leader Dreams Adozen fading into a disappointing seventh place. Familiar winning silks for most flat racing fans, part-owner Evan Sutherland was also successful in last year’s Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood with top handicapper Aberama Gold!

Race 4 – Beck’s Handicap (Class 4, 4yo+, 1m 4 ½f)

The King of Chester (Franny Norton) produced one of his classic Roodee rides in the fourth race of the afternoon when Cavern Club (6/4F) got up right on the line to justify market support for trainer James Owen. Slowly away to begin with, Cavern Club was content enough to race in mid-division for the majority of the contest, racing in company with recent course winner Oman (7/2) on his outside as Chillhi (9/2) spearheaded the field out in front. Pushed along from the four-furlong marker, Cavern Club didn’t look to be going anywhere fast around the final bend, the field now headed by Oman who kicked clear with just under three furlongs to go. As Chillhi rapidly faded out of contention, it was soon a two-horse race with only Oman and Cavern Club looking to hold any sort of chance down the straight. However, taking advantage of Oman’s tendency to drift to his right, Cavern Club stayed on straight and true in the final furlong, getting his head in front in the shadows of the post to take the spoils. More commonly associated with jumps racing, winning owners The Good Stock Syndicate also claimed a Grade 2 at Aintree in 2023 with superstar mare Dysart Enos!

Race 5 – Camden Stout Handicap Stakes (Class 2, 4yo+, 7f)

Jumps racing connections once again came to the fore in the feature race of the afternoon, the Jennie Candlish trained 4-year-old Spirit Genie (13/2) proving to be a real fighter under George Wood in another close fought finish on the Roodee. Satisfied to race towards the tail end of the field, Spirit Genie remained well covered behind runners through the first half mile of the contest, the nine-runner field taken along at a steady tempo by previous course winners Liamarty Dreams (11/2) and Paws For Thought (8/1) in the early stages. Making a promising move, despite being short of room, Spirit Genie travelled well around the home turn behind a wall of horses, Liamarty Dreams now overtaken for the lead by Prince Of Zelda (13/2) as the field streamed into the straight. Staying on strongly down the centre of the track, Spirit Genie found a gap at just the right time in the final furlong on a half, tenaciously seeing off his rivals to chin outsider Way To Dubai (10/1) by just a nose at the finish; Yanifer (15/2) plugged on for third. A jockey previously successful in valuable handicaps, George Wood was also aboard Dolphin Vista when taking the 2017 Cambridgeshire Handicap!

Race 6 – Porcelanosa Chester Fillies’ Handicap (Class 4, 3yo, 6f)

A progressive filly last season, Nighteyes (6/4F) showed the benefit of a recent run by taking the sixth race of the day in comfortable fashion, seeing off her rivals by 4 lengths under Ben Robinson to provide David O’Meara with a double on the day. Slowly away to begin with, Nighteyes soon made rapid headway into third place through the first couple of furlongs, the lead often shared by Court Drive (12/1) and Alfa Moonstone (9/2) up to the two-furlong point, with All Agleam (15/8) and Last Applause (17/2) completing the quintet further back. Ridden along around the home turn, Nighteyes raced widest of all into the home straight, gradually pulling back the deficit as the leaders began to flatten out. Receiving a reminder from Robinson with a furlong to go, Nighteyes responded instantly, quickening away in impressive style and running on strongly to the line, eventually holding off a staying-on Last Applause in second place. Connections always to be feared in handicaps, winning owners Akela Thoroughbreds Limited also took the 2022 Balmoral Handicap at Ascot with Shelir!

Race 7 – Seat Unique Handicap (Class 4, 3yo, 1m 2 ½f)

An impressive winner at the track during the May Festival, Fouroneohfever (11/10F) repeated the feat in the final race of the day, winning eased down by 1 ¾ lengths under Billy Loughnane for the George Boughey stable. A little keen during the first mile of the contest, Fouroneohfever was never far off the pace, racing just over a length behind early leader The Hun (10/1) for the most part, with recent course runner-up Castle In The Sand (9/4) further behind in third place as the runners made their way towards the home turn. With Swordstick (8/1) and Prince Rasam (10/1) seemingly unable to quicken when it mattered, the race soon appeared to be a two-horse showdown, The Hun still holding sway as Fouroneohfever made a telling challenge on his outer. Ridden along and gradually edging into a narrow lead before the furlong marker, Fouroneohfever showed real determination in the closing stages, pulling over a length clear in the final 100 yards before easing up towards the line to score cosily. Beginning as an apprentice in 2022, Loughnane has ridden over 180 winners under rules, including the Prix La Camargo in March aboard Chic Colombine, also trained by Boughey!

Race report by Adam Perkins