An Early Christmas Cracker With Feature Double

There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Newcastle decided to replace their turf  track with the Tapeta all-weather but it has been a real success with plenty of support. Although Kevin does not have that many for the all-weather he has found plenty of winners at the track and took the two feature races on their final meeting before Christmas.

Flaming Spear was as short as 16-1 for the 2000 Guineas as a 3 year old with a big reputation behind him and plenty of racing fans and experts excited at the once raced prospect. Having won on his only start as a juvenile there was nobody who thought it would take a further 2 1/2 years before he would win again. Finally after plenty of time and patience, Flaming Spear got back to winning ways when bravely making all in the 1 mile Sunbets.co.uk Hanicap. 

Now 4 years old, Spear was only making his 9th career start, some horses will run more times than that in a season. This figure just goes to show that he hasn’t been the most straight forward to train with ground issues and a couple of niggling little problems limiting his time on the track. Spear had started the season full of promise with a fine 2nd at Newmarket in the mud during the Craven meeting. It looked as though he was back to his peak and the plan was the big handicaps throughout the year, with 6f/7f seemingly his trip. Unfortunately the plan didn’t come to fruition as three very disappointing runs had connections scratching their heads and feeling quite deflated. Although excuses were made Kevin knew that there was something holding Spear back and decided to continue with the Chestnut, aiming him at a winter on the all-weather.

Flaming Spear ran on the final day of the turf season and following that poor show Kevin tried a few different training methods, trying to find a spark with Spear. Along with his groom, Tracey Purseglove, time was spent preparing Spear for his target of Newcastle on the 21st December. No stone was left unturned and when he went to do his final piece of work it looked as though the work had paid off. Spear was in the best shape possible but now it was how he would fair when under the pressures of racing. 

Robert Winston had been signed up to ride Mr Tony Bloom’s horses this year and so he was booked for the ride, continuing the new partnership with Flaming Spear. With such a big stride it is hard not to allow Spear to go on but Robert was hoping to get a lead. When they broke from the stalls this plan looked to be in hand as a couple moved forward to lead. Unfortunately Spear was stuck on his own from his wide draw and after about 1/2 furlong he decided that he wasn’t quite happy with the pace. With Spear wanting to go on and Robert trying to ride a race, a battle ensued between horse and jockey. Taking a keen hold there was only one winner as Robert decided to submit and allow Spear to go on, pulling their way to the front. Flaming Spear tracked across to head the field and set a decent early gallop. 

Before the race there didn’t look to be too much pace on so the field were happy to let Spear go on and lead. Only Georgian Bay pressed Spear and the two went on by about a length, nose to nose for the lead. Despite all the hard work during preparation, Spear still decided to carry his head very high although it was markedly better than in previous runs. With a good gallop set the mile was going to be a tough test and even more so for Spear who was always just doing a bit more than really Robert would like. 

Soon past halfway the field began to just bunch up so the runners were ready to lay down their challenges. Spear continued to be on the front end and Robert just got a little lower in the saddle, sensing the race would begin to develop quickly. The pace did quicken passing the 3f pole but there was still a long way left to run. Everything still looked to be in with a chance apart from the favourite who was toiling in the rear. Flaming Spear still battled it out in front but the challengers were queuing up behind and looked likely to snatch the lead away sooner rather than later.

With the final 2f left to run there were 3 or 4 in line, very little separating them for the lead. Although edged out Spear was still there and battled it out. Having been out in front from the off he was finding more and responded to Robert’s drive in the saddle. Matching his rivals stride for stride and managed to regain the lead. There were a couple looking stronger than him and a few were beginning to stay on from the rear, it looked likely that Spear would be swallowed up as they moved closer to the final furlong. 

Flaming Spear showed a side that hadn’t been seen before as they passed the 1f pole. Despite being under heavy pressure, Spear began to find more out in front and started to draw away. His narrow lead stretched to a nose, then a neck, then a length. With Robert hard at work Spear carried on lengthening and pulled clear of his nearest rivals. Although he wandered a little inside the final furlong he was running on very strongly and powered away from the rest. Seeing out every yard of the trip Flaming Spear strode clear to win comfortably by a margin of 1 1/4 lengths. 

Flaming Spear Back To Winning Ways With A Brave Victory

It has taken time and a lot of hard work but getting Flaming Spear back to winning ways was very satisfying for all the team. It was a very good display from the 4 year old, after doing too much early on he stayed on well at the end. He showed bravery and class in the win and hopefully this can be a stepping stone. Flaming Spear is the first horse that Mr Tony Bloom has had in training with Kevin and it was very nice to get off the mark for him. With this win everyone will be hoping that Spear can follow up and start to fulfill his massive potential. The season ending good Friday all-weather championships could be the end goal for Spear who may be seen a few more times on the artificial surface. 

Consistency is very hard to find especially with sprinters and ones that are competing in the better races. This can be due to the nature of the races where a split second decision can change everything or just the extreme stresses the horses are under when racing for just around a minute. There is one level of consistency that can be found and Distant Past certainly has that, you know he will pick up a few quality races every year. This year has been no different and he took his second win when pulling clear in the Betway Sprint Handicap at Newcastle, securing a double for the team. 

Now 5 years old Distant Past has been a really reliable horse over the last few years and has again been paying his way this year. Last season was his break through year which saw him win 3 times early on and his handicap mark rocket to the mid 90’s. Distant Past was then pitched in to some of the top sprint handicaps where he ran well but just couldn’t quite match strides with some quality rivals. He paid for his exertions last year and with no leeway from the handicapper he spent the the first half of this season facing an uphill struggle. Running well but not picking any prize money up, Past slowly and surely dropped in the handicap to a mark where he looked likely to be competitive. The only question was whether he retained the ability of the year previous. Questions were answered when he came from out of the clouds to win at Leicester off a mark of 83, just 2lb lower than his last win. Could that performance be used as a confidence boost as he would now be stepping back up in grade. 

Distant Past rounded the turf season off with a couple of good performances and with form on the all-weather it was decided that he would continue to race through the winter. Below par runs at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton were then forgotten as he got back to form at Newcastle finishing a strong second. He maintained that form with another decent run at Wolverhampton but it seemed as though he had more of a liking to the straight tracks so it was a trip back to Newcastle and a step back down in trip.

 Joe Doyle hasn’t enjoyed a win on Past but had ridden a couple of winners for owner Jimmy Chua and was booked for the ride. It was one of the best races that Distant Past had competed in for a while with both Caspian Prince and Gracious John racing off 110. This meant that Past would receive 22lb but many of the punters felt this was a good advantage and a mini gamble went on the 5 year old, sending him off 7-2 second fav. With the race filled with plenty of pace it seemed ideal for Distant Past who had come from off the pace on his last win.

Kevin had re-fitted the visor and this seemed to really bring a spark about with Past. Breaking smartly Past showed fantastic speed and quickly took up the running. It was a surprise to see, not because Past isn’t quick but because there were horses like Caspian Prince in the field who really do have electric pace. Although Joe would have liked a lead he couldn’t do anything as he didn’t want to try and take a pull so Past was free to make the best of his way home. The gallop was very strong and the field quickly moved through the first couple of furlongs. 

It was the three fancied runners who were the first 3 throughout the first half of the race. Distant Past had secured the lead and forced the rest to chase with Gracious John and Caspian Prince pressing him all the way. With little separating the first 3 Past had no room for error and any sign of weakness would be capitalised on. They were going great guns and with just over 2 1/2f to run there was plenty of time for the complexion of the race to change.

Distant Past had set a frantic pace throughout but moving inside the final couple of furlongs he was showing no signs of stopping. It was the favourite who came under pressure first as Past and Gracious John quickened up from the front. Joe was keen to keep his partner up to his work and as he got lower in the saddle, Past stuck his head down. There was still little separating the front two as they broke from the rest of the field.

Weight was going to be a big advantage in the final furlong and it quickly told as Gracious John began to crack as Past edged a little further clear. It was a mad dash to the line but Distant Past had made his move and looked to have sealed the race. As the line came closer and closer the win looked more likely. That was until a late flourish from Line Of Reason. At first it looked like he may come with a rattle to steal it on the line. For a split second it seemed that all of Distant Past’s hard work may be undone but Joe was having none of it. Under a strong drive Past was driven out all the way to line and quashed any of his rivals chances. Passing the line he had secure a 1 1/2 length advantage to secure a valuable win.

Distant Past Showing His Rivals A Clean Pair Of Heels And Blistering Pace

The performance was very taking, not just for the margin of victory but for the pace shown throughout the entire race. It was a good field and Past took them on at their own game. Although Joe did not have much say in the early tactics he certainly earned his riding fee in the latter stages. Distant Past also earned Jimmy Chua his 8th winner of the year for Kevin and looks likely to keep him busy through the winter months. Distant Past will now be moved back up the handicap and will need to defy a lofty mark but in this form there is no reason to think that he couldn’t improve to that level now.