Saturday Treble Keeps The Good Form Going

The horses are in flying form at the minute and it was proven again on Saturday as Kevin sent out an across the card treble with Geno, Heir To A Throne and Swift Approval. Getting winners is always difficult but most people would agree that racing becomes even more competitive on a Saturday so it was pleasing to see 3 more winners on the scoreboard. 

3 from 3 was the strike rate Matt and Lauren Morgan were going at as they were celebrating 3 winners in the last week. They had barely had chance to celebrate Weekend Offender’s victory before Geno notched their fourth winner when taken the 5f maiden at Beverley. It is a big turnaround from last season and they are really reaping the rewards for showing plenty of patience with their horses. 

When horses have a string of seconds next to their name people can quickly see this as a sign of being un-genuine or tricky. Sometimes this can be very harsh to horses but not for Geno who had become a frustrating fella to follow. As a 2 year old he had finished second on three occasions, which was very good as he had bumped into a few nice types. It was a little disappointing not to get his head in front but there was plenty to look forward to as a 3 year old and a win was surely only a matter of time. Unfortunately Geno had other ideas and his first two runs this season had connections pulling their hair out. On both occasions he travelled strongly, looking the most likely winner before downing tools thinking he had one enough. The ability was there but the mindset wasn’t. Cheek-pieces hadn’t worked and neither had blinkers so there was only one thing left to do. 

Joe Doyle has been riding out of his skin recently and got the leg up on Geno with fairly strict yet easy instructions. There was only one thing to do, kick him out and make his mind up for him and don’t look back. The instructions gave Joe no illusions of the task ahead, just don’t let Geno start thinking because there would only be one winner. 

From the moment the stalls opened Joe did everything asked of him but did get a helping hand from Geno. Bouncing from the gates the pair raced to the front and quickly took the race by the scruff of the neck. The gallop was strong and Geno was hassled all the way but he easily travelled through the earlier stages of the race and they couldn’t get on terms with him. On the form book Geno was a worthy favourite and he quickly had the field stretched with Joe just dropping his hands and his partner blistering through the first couple of furlongs. 

The 5 strong field were soon motoring towards halfway and the pace was showing with everyone coming under pressure except Geno. He travelled strongly and held a good 1 1/2 length advantage coming towards the business end of the race. With Kevin’s instructions fresh in his head, Joe was not going to give Geno any chance to idle in front. He was in the position he had wanted and now was time to push the button. Most of the time when a horse is travelling the lads will keep them together for as long as possible but this wasn’t an option for Geno. With 3 quick smacks of the whip Joe sent his mount for home and the response was good. Geno stuck his head down and quickened up off his own blistering pace. With a couple of lengths advantage they hit the rising ground and Joe was in full drive trying to get everything fro his mount. Geno was a very willing partner and carried on finding a bit more. There was nothing coming from off the pace and as they moved inside the final furlong it was clear there was only one winner. Joe wouldn’t let up in the saddle and made sure Geno galloped all the way to the line. As the pair hit the line they held a 1 1/4 length advantage and gave Geno his first career win. 

It was great to finally get the 3 year old’s head in front and hopefully now he can progress from this. He is a little bit tricky but there is a good engine inside Geno, it’s just a case of finding the key to him.  He will now have to take a step back into handicap company and will need to continue to improve is he is to build on this success. He may just be a horse that does better against better opposition where he can get a good gallop and plenty of cover.

The second winner of the day may just have been the sweetest as Heir To A Throne gained a very much deserved win and gave owner Dave Stone his first winner. Now Dave ha been involved with winners before as being part of the Slaters Arms Racing Club but he took the plunge into ownership last year and has finally been rewarded. There are not many people who will get as excited and nervous when their horse runs so it was great to be able to get him next to number 1 pole in the winners enclosure. 

Heir To A Throne actually went into his race, the 7 1/2f Stellar Group Maiden, with a similar profile to Geno. With four successive seconds next to his name it could be easily seen as a bit of a monkey. That is until you looked at his form, second to Marcel (Racing Post Trophy winner), Forge (3rd in a listed event) and the well thought of Fawaareq gave Heir’s form a good look. As he lined up against 6 rivals there was once again a couple of southern talking horses but Heir made no mistake this time around. 

Chester is a tricky track and it always pays to be up with the pace, something that Heir loves to do also. Drawn 7 of 7 it wasn’t going to be easy but not as bad as if there were more runners. Shane Gray has ridden Heir on all his starts and was again in the saddle, kicking his mount out of the gates and quickly taking up a nice position on the outside of the group. The pace came from Ten Rocks but Shane had Heir nicely positioned on the outer sat on the leader’s girths. The favourite tracked the pair along the inside and there was little to separate the 7 runners.

Through the early stages the pace was quite sedate for the race and Heir To A Throne raced a little keenly as too did the favourite. Fortunately after the initial hustle and bustle he began to settle and drop the bridle, although still always just doing a little more than Shane would have liked. The field were always closely bunched as they continued to turn and turn round the Roudee. 

Due to the nature of Chester, Shane was in a perfect position to strike and with the pace being quite steady it was going to turn into a sprint. The field were quickly passed the halfway stage and the field began to gather round the leader who was looking in danger of being swamped. With the short run in the race was always going to warm up coming around the final bend just over 2f out. 

Finally there was an injection of pace from the leader as the 2f marker loomed. Unfortunately for him the move was quickly nullified by the chasing pack, especially Heir To A Throne who moved up on the outside. Shane was low in the saddle and getting a tune out of his willing partner who took up the running as they swung into the home straight. Now he had the lead, there were well inside the 2f but his market rivals loomed dangerously in behind. The favourite Edward Lewis was travelling full of running but the early leader was not giving way, ensuring there was no clear passage. 

The final furlong was a real battle, but when it came down to that there was only ever going to be one winner. For a small horse he has a big heart so his rivals were going to have to pull out all the stops. Shane and Heir battled hard. The advantage had narrowed to just a neck to Sehayli but the favourite was now in clear. Heir was not going to be denied and pulled out a little extra every time he was asked. It was a great finish and then in the dying strides the late flourish of Loaded added another contender. Nothing mattered though, this was Heir’s day in the sun and he made sure of it, sticking his head out all the way and hanging on by a head.

It was great to see such a genuine horse get off the mark and the manner in which he did typifies Heir To A Throne all over. He has been unlucky to come up against some smart performers but he has always run his race. With a heart his size it’s going to be a fun season for Dave Stone because he will always get a run for his money. Obviously he will now have to go handicapping but you never know where his improvement could finish as he gives it his all.

Tough and Tenacious, Heir To A Throne Was Not To Be Denied

The day was rounded off when Swift Approval took Catterick’s feature race, the 7f Toteexacta Pick The 1st and 2nd Handicap. This was following his fine performance at Musselburgh when he destroyed his rivals to win by 3 1/2 lengths on his seasonal return. That win had prompted the handicapper to take no chances and gave Swift an 8lb rise, which did have connections wondering if he could be quite as dominant next time around. 

Tom Eaves has been riding great in recent weeks and really gets a tune out of the 4 year old gelding. From 2 rides previous, Tom has finished second and won on the chestnut and he improved that record again when he took the ride at Catterick. The positive ride last time had seen Swift Approval at his best but similar tactics looked likely to be difficult to implement. The £20,000 race had attracted 14 runners, plenty of whom like to go forward. Being drawn 8 out of 14 was also going to prove difficult but Tom was not going to take any prisoners. 

The gates burst open and Tom immediately got after Swift, driving him into the lead. Others tried to follow suit but Swift had too much toe for them all and crossed over to lead the field. Unfortunately this early move had created a strong pace and there was no chance to take a pull and slow things up now. Swift Approval had his big white face out in front but it was Middleham Park’s other horse, Edgar Balthazar, who was in closest pursuit. Jason Hart was really wanting to take up the running which meant there was no let up for Swift and it was surely going to be a very testing race. 

Catterick has it’s unique characteristics, sharp downhill run and plenty of undulations to knock any horse off balance if they are not careful. Swift Approval relished all of this and travelled easily in front, even at the high speed he had set. There was no let up from his closest pursuers either and Tom was probably wishing they would leave him alone. When you ride from the front there is always a time when you would like to take stock and get a breather into your horse before kicking again. This was not going to happen and Tom soon had the field past halfway and on the stretch. 

The field came swinging round the home bend and there was a massive gap from first to last. As they straightened up for home the horses who had chased the pace started to pay for the blistering pace. The same could not be said for Swift as Tom had yet to move but they had still opened up a gap of couple of lengths. With daylight between Swift and the winning line the rest of the field were becoming strung out like jumpers. 

Moving inside the final 2f and Tom asked for his mount to quicken and put the race to bed. Swift Approval stuck his head down and drew clear with only one or two rivals making any headway in pursuit. Tom is known for his strength in the saddle and now it was time for him to help his partner out. Swift had gotten them to this position now he needed help to keep going off the relentless pace. Tom got low and drove his mount on, getting closer and closer to the wining line.

Swift Approval Battling For The Lead

Unsurprisingly Swift began to tire moving into the final furlong and it just opened up the door to Big Time who had been the one to give chase. The 3 length advantage was started to whittle down but Tom was doing everything he could to get one last effort out of Swift. The horse responded every time he was asked but Big Time was ready for one last thrust. As the line loomed the race was still looking in the balance. Big Time came up the inner but somehow Swift Approval responded and found a little bit more, pulling to a 1/2 length lead and securing his second successive win. 

A Pillar To Post Win For 2 In A Row

Swift approval has really started this season in great form and has given all his connections at Middleham Park plenty to celebrate. As much as his first win was impressive this certainly was a display to remember. Not only was he up 8lb but the pace set was relentless and then he managed to quicken up too. He is really in a rich vein of form and Tom felt that Kevin still hasn’t got to the bottom of him yet. The handicapper will have another look at him now and Swift Approval will certainly be stepping up in class again but in this form there is no reason to think the winning streak is ready to stop any time soon.

Swift Approval Photos Courtesy of Louise Pollard – www.louisepollard.co.uk