Fillies Double Up To Kick Start August
After 22 winners in July it was important to continue the good form and the horses have obliged. After Perfect Madge got off the mark to give Kevin his first winner of August, two more of his fillies added to the tally at Newcastle. Bongrace and Futoon both gained their second career wins at Newcastle showing the rich vein of form the yard is in.
Bongrace was heading to Newcastle after securing her first win and took her first steps into handicap company. Her win at Musselburgh had come as a surprise to many but not Kevin and he felt there was more to come from the daughter of Helmet. She certainly showed there was still more to come when taking the 7f Newly Refurbished Border Minstrel Fillies Handicap.
Having started out over 6f it wasn’t until Bongrace stepped up in trip that the real improvement came about. When she headed to Musselburgh for the 7f maiden the punters ignored her and she was sent off the 11-1 outsider of four. Bongrace duly made a mockery of the odds and took the first win, pleasing both trainer and jockey and showing that there was still a long way to go with the filly. The handicapper did not view the performance as that strong and gave Bongrace an opening mark of 67, which led Kevin to select the 7f Nursery at Newcastle, an event that was a 0-85 handicap.
Bongrace was again set to face just 3 rivals and yet again the punters did not view her chances as the strongest in the race. With the favourite running off a mark of 80 and a well supported second fav, Bongrace was allowed to go off at 9-2. Kevin Stott had got a good tune out of the filly last time and took the ride again, attempting to make it 2 wins on the bounce.
With just the 4 runners there was a risk of it turning into a tactical affair. Fortunately when the stalls opened the Mark Johnston trained Fancy Day went forward and set nice even gallop. Karl Burke’s Nicolys sat second with Bongrace keeping the favourite, Island Vision, company just at the back. The 4 runners were all in close proximity and each of the jockeys looked happy with their positions. It was a good gallop and with plenty of room to move there was going to be no excuses.
There was little to talk about through the early stages, all were travelling well and noboy decided to change the tempo or dimension of the race. Before halfway there was a small moment of concern with Bongrace with Kevin just niggling away a little. It looked as though she may just not be handling the Tapeta surface. The worry was quickly quashed as she came back on the bridle, stronger than before.
It wasn’t long before the field moved past halfway and the tempo of the race quickened. The leader tried to stretch them but could not get the break from the front. Nicolys quickly went after the leader and headed it as they hit the 2f marker. With Fancy day beaten it was left to the favourite and Bongrace to give chase. Both were travelling well and looked big dangers as the new leader continued to quicken in front. It was Island Vision who was first to lay down their challenge and suddenly looked like holding a huge chance. Kevin was still motionless and Bongrace travelled very strong on the outside and suddenly looked the most likely winner. There were three in a line heading towards the final furlong.
Favourite backers were the first to tear up their slips as Island vision weakened moving inside the final furlong. The leader, Nicolys, still continued to hold sway in front and was all set for a battle. Bongrace had moved up to the leader hard on the bridle and it was when she got her nose level Kevin decided to go. With relative ease she moved into the lead and although she didn’t go clear immediately, Bongrace had the race to win now. The final furlong was now a case of how far and it took a little longer than expected to get on top. Nicolys was brave in defeat but the further they went the more dominant Bongrace was. By the time she crossed the line she had opened up a 2 1/4 length advantage and won her second race impressively.
Bongrace was well on top to secure her second win in a row
Bongrace is obviously a filly who is improving and there still looks to be more to come by the look of this convincing display. She was winning off 67 and the handicapper will look to stop her but on this evidence there is still plenty left in the tank. Bongrace took a bit of time to get on top and she looks like she may be even better when stepped up to a mile. With the win on Tapeta it also opens up a lot more options and she will certainly take a step up in grade now. In this vein of form Bongrace will be a hard filly to stop and there may be a few more wins to come.
Futoon earned her second career win when following up her stable mate’s win and taking the finale, the 5f Annual Members Handicap. It was a good performance and one that got her back to winning ways.
Having won her maiden, in a dead heat, Futoon had been asked a few tough questions in her runs following that victory. She ran well in a couple of 0-80 5f handicaps, finishing fifth and third and showing she would be competitive off her mark of 76. On both of those starts there were a couple of excuses and Kevin believed she had plenty of ability still to give. This persuaded him to to step her up in trip for her biggest task last time out, the 6f fillies handicap at Newmarket, a step up in grade to 0-95. She ran with great credit to finish a good fifth, showing plenty of early speed before just getting caught out in the final furlong. It was her best run to date and Kevin knew she would be hard to beat off her new mark of 75.
When Kevin spotted the race at Newcastle it looked to be the ideal race for Futoon. It would be a drop in grade, a stiff 5f and the only question mark would be the surface, although it was felt she would handle it no problem. With the race selected it was now down to Joe Doyle to do the steering, the only jockey to win on the filly.
There were 6 rivals set to line up against Futoon and it looked quite a competitive affair. Arguably Futoon was the one to beat and the punters latched on to that making her the 15-8fav. It looked as though there would be plenty of pace early on so the race should be run to suit, with Futoon most likely doing her best work late on.
The stalls opened and there was a quick push for the lead, setting a strong early pace. There was a line of three who were vying for the lead with another line of three following in behind, the group that contained Futoon. She was sat just off the leaders towards the stands side and settled well through the early stages. It was a quick race through the first couple of furlongs but all 7 rivals were able to go the gallop and a few lengths separated the entire field.
First Bombardment and Hilary J had been setting the pace from the outset and by the time they raced past the 3f marker they had shrugged off Roaring Rory who started to come under pressure. The tempo increased from the halfway point and this caused a few of the runners to come off the bridle with the jockeys working to keep them in the race. It was only Futoon who moved forward and could go on with the leaders. As the field moved inside the final 2f it quickly became evident that the race was now between the first 3. Futoon was travelling well but had a good 1 1/2 lengths to make up on the leaders, who similarly were going strong in front.
Joe was seemingly very happy with his position and it was their closest market rival who led the the way. Hilary J was travelling well and just held sway but both Futoon and First Bombardment were too moving easily. It was now going to be who could quicken and out battle their rivals. Between the 2f and 1f poles there was little to separate the three in terms of visual strength and the race was soon going to be decided. All three of the main contenders moved towards the final furlong full of running with their jockeys giving nothing away.
The final furlong approached and it was Joe who got to work first, squeezing his filly on to close on the leaders. Futoon began to close the gap and this prompted the other two to follow suit. Hilary J was the first one to break and quickly gave up the lead when inside the final furlong. First Bombardment had quickened up from the front and now led, edging further ahead with each stride. Joe was at full drive and his mount was making headway, passing Hilary J and setting off after the leader. There was only 1/2 furlong to run and Futoon had yet to get on terms but she was getting stronger with every yard. The leader was not stopping but was starting to level out in their run. Joe was asking for everything and he was getting it with Futoon closing with every stride. She drew level and quickly went ahead with just a couple of hundred yards to run. She was in top gear now and there was no stopping her as she powered through to win by 1/2 length going away.
Futoon quickening up well and taking the race a shade cosily
It was an ideal race to get Futoon back into the winners circle and a good win for her owners Course And Distance Racing. The strong pace allowed her to settle well and she saw out the stiff 5f very well. It was the easiest race she had run in and should provide Futoon with a nice confidence boost. She has plenty of speed but also sees out the trip well so should be adaptable regarding trip, easily able to perform at 5f and 6f. Her mark will now dictate where she goes next but there is improvement still to come and she should be back in the winners enclosure again this season.