Matthew Clark Summer Style Race Day

It once again paid to race prominently at this year’s Matthew Clark Summer Style Race Day, with no less than six of the seven race winners making all or challenging for the lead throughout. The feature contest on the card came at 3:35pm in the Patron Tequila Handicap Stakes (Class 2), with ground conditions riding Good (Good to Firm) through the duration of the afternoon.

Race 1 – Champagne Laurent-Perrier EBF Restricted Maiden (GBB/IRE Incentive) (Class 4, 2yo, 6f)

After a string of promising efforts, The Flying Seagull (Evs F) finally put it all together on the racetrack when taking the first race of the day in comfortable fashion, coming home 2 ¾ lengths in front under Silvestre De Sousa for the Hugo Palmer stable. Sharp out the gates, The Flying Seagull was never out of first place through the opening half mile of the contest, travelling strongly out in front for the duration before stepping up the tempo around the home turn. Readily accelerating clear of market rival Sensorium (2/1) just over a furlong from the finish, The Flying Seagull had the race sewn up in a matter of strides under De Sousa, merely ridden out to make sure down the straight before seeing off Blueandtangerine (50/1) in second place. After a brief stint riding in Asia, De Sousa has returned to the UK with a bang this season, already successful at Group 1 level aboard Charyn at Royal Ascot!

Race 2 – Whispering Angel Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 1m 4 ½f)

Whipping round the home turn and careering away in emphatic style, Bur Dubai (6/4F) oozed class when taking the second race of the afternoon, recording a whopping 9 ½ length victory for Daniel Tudhope and Kevin Philippart de Foy. Adopting similar tactics to the winner of the first race, Bur Dubai moved straight into the lead under Tudhope upon exiting the starting stalls, setting a good clip at the head of affairs as Busby (50/1) and Melek Alreeh (10/1) led the chase. Moving sweetly out in the lead as most of his rivals came under firm pressure, Bur Dubai was electric around the turn into the straight, cornering smoothly before sprinting clear of the field in the final furlong to record an incredibly easy victory, with Open Secret (100/30) battling his way into second place. Another good result for Green Team Racing, their Deira Mile also finished a solid fourth in the Derby this month!

Race 3 – Manor Car Hire Handicap (Class 3, 3yo+, 6f)

Recording her third course victory in the space of a year, Radio Goo Goo (9/2) was made to fight all the way to the line in Race 3, holding on gamely in the end to score by a nose for David Evans, with Dylan Hogan doing the steering. Always to the fore and never headed, Radio Goo Goo blitzed the field along through the first four furlongs of the contest, stalked by recent course victor Old Chums (3/1F) on the inside rail for the most part. Passing the two-furlong marker with a slender lead, Dylan Hogan pushed the button aboard Radio Goo Goo upon entering the straight, his mount readily pulling clear in the final furlong and a half before almost being clawed back on the line by the rallying Bosh (10/1), with Dare To Hope (13/2) hot on their coattails. A filly any owner would love to have, Radio Goo Goo has now bagged over £100,000 in prize money for connections in less than 2 years!

Race 4 – Patron Tequila Handicap (Class 2, 3yo, 7f)

Another to benefit from racing prominently, there was no stopping Al Shabab Storm (100/30) in the feature race of the day, readily seeing off his rivals to record an impressive 3 ¾ length victory for Jason Watson and Andrew Balding. Expertly handled by Watson to cut across from a wide berth in Stall 7, Al Shabab Storm set the gallop out in front through the opening half mile, in pole position and travelling nicely with three furlongs to go. Despite coming under firm pressure and hanging left on the turn into the straight, Al Shabab Storm had enough momentum to tough it out through the final furlong and a half, always clear of market leader Jungle Mac (3/1F) who stayed on well but ultimately had to settle for a second runner-up finish in a row. Reliable in the saddle, Watson has also scored twice at Listed level aboard the smart Nymphadora; a winner here at the 2023 May Festival!

Race 5 – Jam Shed Handicap (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m)

Marking up a first victory on the flat since his debut in 2021, Sea Grey (12/1) pulled out all the stops in Race 5 under the ever-reliable Franny Norton, scrambling home to score by a head for renowned jumps trainer Donald McCain. Close-up throughout the opening mile and a half, Sea Grey travelled strongly in the chasing vanguard under Franny Norton, never more than a couple of lengths behind leading pair Dreams Adozen (9/4) and Tailorman (7/2) as the remainder stayed well-bunched. Waiting for the gaps to appear and apparently with plenty left in the tank, Sea Grey broke away from the inside rail around the home turn and once in the clear, readily kicked on to edge past Tailorman in the closing stages and shade a narrow victory at the finish. Successful with Donald McCain in the past, the Mark Kelly Racing Syndicate also own McCain’s fair hurdler Kerosine Light, who in 2022 won at Chester’s sister course Bangor-On-Dee before going on to take the valuable Cartmel Cup!

Race 6 – Born To Mix Absolut Vodka Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 3, 3yo+, 7 ½f)

Rewarding market support and providing Silvestre De Sousa with a double, Bobby Bennu (10/11F) made all to score in the penultimate race of the day, scooting home to record a tidy 7-length victory for trainer Roger Varian. Bursting out of the stalls into the lead, Bobby Benu set an honest gallop out in front of his three rivals in the early stages, keenly going about his business as market rival Upscale (6/4) moved well in behind. Still in front at the two-furlong marker, Bobby Benu soon had matters in hand around the home bend, moving notably easier than the remainder of the field. With victory at his mercy, Bobby Benu sauntered further clear in the final furlong, eased down crossing the line to score by a wide margin ahead of Warrior’s Dance (8/1) in second place. Successful at Royal Ascot recently, Varian and De Sousa also teamed up to take this year’s Qipco 1,000 Guineas with Elmalka!

Race 7 – Chase Distillery EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Class 3, 3yo+, 1m 2 ½f)

A filly making a name for herself, Esmeray (9/2) recorded her third win in a row when taking the seventh and final race, always doing enough under Rob Hornby to notch a 1 ¼ length victory for the Ralph Beckett yard. Quickly into stride and slipping through up the inside rail, Esmeray soon dictated matters under Rob Hornby in Race 7, holding a slender lead over market leader Haya (2/1F) through the opening mile. As the final couple of furlongs loomed, the majority of runners in behind struggled to mount much of a challenge, and after showcasing a lovely turn of foot at the furlong marker, Esmeray soon had the race sewn up, coming home an easy winner for owners Lynn Turner & Guy Brook, whose Richenza and Zoum Zoum have both gone on to score at Listed level for Ralph Beckett!

Race report by Adam Perkins