Gimcracks Entrants State Their Claims
The Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York is one of racing’s most historic 2yr old races. Being at a local track and with the prestige behind it, Kevin has always seen it as a race he’d love to win. Very few trainer can boast as good a record, with 4 winners in the race, and once again there are some smart juveniles with the race as a potential target. One thing you must do first though is gain that first career win, which Treble Treble and Byline did in decisive fashion.
Amadeus Wolf provided the yard with the first of their 4 Gimcrack winners back in 2005. Owner Brendan McDonald was involved with the crack sprinter and is hoping that Treble Treble could carry the colours high once more. Although not identical, the pink silks with green cross brings back memories of the Wolf and Treble Treble certainly showed there was more than just that when he strode clear to take the 6f British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Haydock.
The son of Brazen Beau was an £80,000 breeze up buy and having impressed Kevin during that sale he made one phone call. Brendan McDonald had been waiting for a 2yo and this fella looked as though he could be the one. Making his debut at York certainly gave the impression that he could be as you need a nice one to run there. Treble Treble showed a very professional attitude, jumping smartly and leading through the first half of the race. Unfortunately as the pressure came from the winner and runner up, inexperience told. As they quickened Treble got a little lost but responded in the final furlong to rally again and finish a very promising third. The race had shown Treble Treble in great light and it seemed as though he could anywhere following and would take all the beating.
Ready to go once more, there were plenty of options for Treble Treble. All the races were ideal for a few of Kevin’s 2yo’s so there were four colts who were entered together. Kevin had to decide which race and track would best suit each colt and Treble Treble ended up being declared for Haydock. Very similar to York, Haydock is a lovely track for juveniles although it does mean that the races can be tough. He was set to line up against 9 rivals and Kevin Stott was there to take the ride.
Despite his good debut, Treble Treble found a few of his rivals in front of him in the market. Close to the off his price did drop and he would eventually go off the 4/1 3rd favourite. Having been very professional on debut Kevin was set to keep things simple. Just as the stalls opened, Treble half leapt out the stalls which caused him to lose a little ground. Quickly gathered up the colt was into stride to sit and sat in midfield. The favourite JM Jackson moved over to lead and sat directly in front of Treble Treble, which gave Kevin an ideal target for the second half of the race. The rain had changed the ground to “Good To Soft” and the pace was sensible with his in mind.
Treble Treble travelled smoothly through the first few furlongs and although he was trying it for the first time, the ground didn’t seem to be a problem. With the favourite leading the field had all filtered in behind to race up the centre of the track. Kevin just allowed his mount to travel in his hands and by the halfway stage the colt had pulled himself into contention with ease. Although still a long way from home, the race did begin to heat up and those chasing the leader just started to fan out and look to quicken up. Between the 3f and 2f markers the jockeys got a little lower in the saddle as they started to wind up their mounts. Kevin was the one who was yet to really do too much and Treble took him there relatively easy.
Passing the 2f marker JM Jakson began to come under pressure and it was Treble Treble who moved up to press. There were still chances throughout the field but Kevin was yet to move as his colt powered up alongside the leader. It seemed as though Kevin could press the button when he wanted but he waited and sat patiently. The favourite was finding for pressure and held on but it did seem as though Treble Treble had more left in the tank. Those giving chase were far from beaten but they didn’t look to be making any headway. It was the debutante Cobra Eye who was coming out of the pack to come with a challenge.
Just before entering the final furlong, Treble Treble edged his nose in to the lead. Kevin was no driving the colt along and he had responded by quickening up. JM Jackson was proving to be brave but couldn’t repel the challenge and succumbed to Treble. There was only 200 yards to run and now Treble held a length lead over the retreating fav but Cobra Eye was the one who was going to give chase. For a second it looked as though the finish would be a close run thing as Cobra Eye moved through to sit only a length back. Kevin kept his mouth up to his work and with 100 yards to go the colt changed his legs and quickened again, forging into a couple of lengths lead. This pair pulled clear of the rest but the result was now set. Treble Treble was not for being caught and strode out to a 1 3/4 length victory.
Kevin’s juveniles always improve for the run, whether they win first time out or not and once again this was the case. Treble Treble made a very promising debut and it was obvious that inexperience had proven to be the biggest obstacle that day. He learnt a lot for that and put it to good use at Haydock. He travelled very well before quickening up nicely. When the pressure came from the runner up he found again and in the end won with a bit ion hand. Now Kevin doesn’t make fancy entries for the sake of it and the Gimcrack will certainly be in the thoughts going forward. The great thing with Treble Treble is that he is still a work in progress and there looks to be plenty more to come from him. He is growing all the time which all bodes well for the future. Maybe the pink and green could once again flashing down the Knavesmire.
Bogart was a legend but it was his brother Blaine who managed to pick up the Gimcrack as a 2yr old. Two talented sprinters who gave the yard plenty of good days out, their little brother now looks to have picked up some of their talent too. Byline is the third progeny Kevin has trained from the dam Lauren Louise and he got off the mark at the second attempt when running away with the 6f Bb Foodservice EBF Maiden Stakes at Hamilton.
No matter who the trainer is they will all be a little biased to family’s they know. If you have had a good one in the past then you can guarantee any progeny will top of the list when the yearling sales come around. This is true for Kevin and he managed to get the first two sons Lauren Louise produced. They proved to be serious 2yr olds so straight away he would look for the dam when the sales catalogue arrived. Unfortunately her offspring that came after never struck the same chords and never really looked the same type as Bogart or Blaine. That was until last October when a strapping son of Muhaarar stepped out his box at Tattersalls Book 1. Straight away he reminded Kevin of his brothers and he was determined to secure the colt. It took £140,000 but Highclere Thoroughbred Racing quickly snapped him up when they set eyes on him.
Having shown promise at home, Byline headed to Ayr in an attempt to emulate Bogart who had made a winning debut at the same track. That looked impossible when the colt fell out of the stalls giving the rest a head start. Racing green throughout the first half of the race things were not going to plan. Suddenly the penny dropped with just a couple of furlongs to run and Byline came good. Picking off his rivals he quickened up down the centre of the track. Making top ground hand over fist he flew home but couldn’t quite catch the experienced winner. It was certainly a race of two halves but thankfully Byline had confirmed the promise he had shown at home.
Very much like his stable mate who had won earlier in the day, Byline looked like he could anywhere and would take all the beating. Hamilton was the chosen destination for Byline and when the declarations came out the race only attracted 6 runners. The small field was probably due to softer conditions as well as the strong form of Byline. Tom Eaves had been on board for his debut and kept the ride as the pair looked to go one better second time out.
There is no such thing as a certainty in racing but Byline was seen as close as you could get. The punters ensured he would go off at 8/13 fav but there was an interesting newcomer. Dark Regard, carrying the colours of superstar Laurens, was being talked about as a big threat despite making her debut. It did look as though the race was between these two but nothing was being taken for granted.
Knowing full well that anything could happen Tom was keen to be positive. Byline immediately showed he had learnt from his debut as he jumped smartly. Drawn in stall 1 he was positioned down the centre of the track but with him into stride quickly it allowed Tom to immediately look towards the rail. Rominintheglomin was also showing good speed towards the inside so Tom had to just sit alongside as the pair set the early pace. Debutante Dark Regard was well away and tracked Byline, not too far away from the colt.
Racing downhill the leader was running keen. Tom didn’t want any trouble so he left Byline alone, to race as he wanted. The colt travelled smoothly and was travelling well within himself. By halfway the pair had edged into the lead and this had been done with the minimum of fuss. Rominintheglomin was already beginning to toil at his early stage which left Byline to set the pace and gave Tom the opportunity to get across to the rail, which he gladly took. Moving to the 2f marker it seemed as though the market had got it right, byline held the lead travelling on the bridle whilst Dark Regard was trying to follow him through. The rest were really struggling to make any impression.
Inside the 2f marker Tom just got hold of the reins a little tighter and began to get his mount to lengthen. Byline responded but just edged off the rail towards the centre of the track once again. Tom didn’t fight him but gathered him up and got the colt balanced. Dark Regard was laying down a good challenge on the outer, getting to within 3/4 length of Byline. It was here that Tom got Byline balanced once more, changing legs and straightening up for home.
Moving into the final furlong the finish stiffens up and now Byline could assert. Tom was getting more serious now but it was still a hands and heels ride. Although still edging right Byline quickened up and started to pull clear. As they went further Byline found more and with 100 yards to run he had put the race to bed. Now it was a case of how far would the winning margin be. Byline crossed the line with a comfortable 3 1/2 length advantage.
It was an impressive performance and Byline did exactly what was expected of him. Although the race lacked depth there was a couple of questions that the colt had to answer. The ground and track were not ideal but he handled them and won despite it. It was nice to see him jump well and then throughout the race he travelled very smoothly before quickening clear. All he will do is improve again for this and Byline does look like a promising colt. Again he is in the Gimcrack and if that is the route taken it would certainly bring back some memories as he tries to emulate his brother.