Quick Fire Double For Flying Fillies
The juveniles are really firing now and with many having made their debuts in the last month they have gained that all important experience. With general improvement from first to second run many have been excelling in recent weeks. Elnadim Star and Gold Stone gave Kevin and owner Jaber Abdullah a quick fire double at Beverley both at the second time of asking.
Elnadim Star had made her debut over C&D and it was a real eye catching performance. Having been given a tricky draw she showed good speed throughout the contest. Unfortunately she was always posted wide and this meant she was doing much more work without any help. Showing up for a long way she just got tired in the final furlong and her inexperience told. The finishing position did not do her justice and it was a performance that was very pleasing. She had tackled a difficult draw and and also handled a tricky track.
Kevin gave the filly a good amount of time between her runs but when he saw the 5f contest at Beverley it looked like a simple decision to run. Having performed so well at the track on debut confidence was high that she could go close this time around. Tom Eaves was again in the saddle as they took on just 6 rivals. Although there were previous winners in the field it was Elnadim Star who looked the most likely improver.
Unfortunately she was again berthed wide but with less runners and her experience it may be easier to get across to a better racing position. Quickly out of the stalls, Elnadim Star was fast away and into stride. Tom got her forward to track the leaders and as she well away she could tuck in slightly to track the early leaders. Still on the outside of the group, Elnadim Star had saved a lot of ground and was in an ideal position.
Racing downhill the field blitzed through the first half of the race. Despite some newcomers the 7 runners were well bunched. At the halfway point there is a slight kink in the rail which just nudges the runners wider. This clears a path for horses coming from behind and it was this point that Tom just angled out slightly to get clear daylight. Elnadim was travelling very well as she was filling up for the final charge. The newcomer Zip Along had been sent off favourite, and was living up to her name leading up the rail. It was these two who were travelling strongest moving inside the final couple of furlongs with the rest hard at work trying to get on terms.
Having raced wide throughout the contest, Tom could now edge over to challenge. Elnadim Star loomed up to the leader still on the bridle and with just the final 1 1/2f to run he pushed the button. The chestnut filly picked up and edged into a narrow lead. Zip Along was battling away on the inside and making life difficult. Despite asking her to go Tom hadn’t really got too serious yet. Passing the 1f marker the ground rises and once Elnadim Star hit this she really began to assert her dominance. Striding out she was getting stronger the further they went. Nothing was closing on the filly and she had the lead by 1/2 length which was growing as she strode clear. Stating on strongly Elnadim Star opened up her advantage to 1 1/4 lengths, crossing the line to take her first career win.
Just half an hour later and the same connections were back in the winners enclosure. It was division 2 of the same event and Gold Stone matched her stable mate with almost a carbon copy performance and winning with the same dominance.
It was a similar story with Gold Stone who had made her debut at the same track, running with plenty of promise. That day she had dwelt from the stalls, giving away quite a lot of ground. Having shown signs of inexperience early on she picked up really well towards the end of the race. The winner was well clear that day but Stone had pulled clear of the rest of the field showing a very good level of form for her first appearance on the track.
Very much like her stable mate, Kevin though the race was ideal and when he knew it would split it made sense to send both fillies for the contest. Gold Stone looked the one to beat on paper and with Elnadim Star taking the first division the punters felt a double was on the cards, sending Stone off 10/11 favourite. Tom was the man in the saddle again and again he rode the filly with simplicity.
Just like in the first race Gold Stone was berthed wide but she would be able to be a bit more aggressive than Elnadim Star. Jumping well she was sharply into stride and quickly went forward. There was only Siena Flyer who could match her early speed so Tom was able to quickly move across from his draw to tag onto the leader’s girths through the early stages. With the two fillies smartly away the pace was good as already the pair were making the best of their way home.
Tom was happy to let his filly get on with things and she was travelling very smoothly. By the time she had got to the 3f marker the leader couldn’t match strides and Gold Stone moved into the lead with relative ease. The filly was showing great speed but travelling well within herself. Now leading she began to apply the pressure.
Little had managed to get into the contest early on and they would need to finish well to challenge Gold Stone. Passing the 2f marker Stone had now moved into a commanding lead with Siena Flyer under pressure and beginning to weaken. Her rivals were under pressure to try and close the gap and although they were making a bit of headway Tom had yet to ask the question with his mount. Gold Stone had moved well so far and done everything easily.
When they met the rising ground it was time to put the race to bed and as Gold Stone moved into the final furlong she was asked to quicken. Quicken she did and opened up into a nice advantage. The challengers tried to close and they began to move closer. Stone had been on the front end for a while now and was beginning to get a little lonely out in front. With the help of the rail Tom just had to give a few small reminders and Gold Stone kicked on. The gap was closing and soon she had been cut to just a length lead. As she felt her rival closing in it gave her the impetus needed and Stone responded. Finding more she repelled the challenge and went on again, opening up to a 1 1/2 length victory.
It was a great double for owner Mr Jaber Abdullah and he looks to have a couple promising fillies. Both improved from their debut runs and really showed natural speed before quickening up well. They were almost identical performances and the wins were a good step forward in their progression. What’s on agenda next will all depend but Elnadim Star and Gold Stone will certainly continue to improve and the best is yet to come.