Week Full Of Winners Just Keeps Getting Better
You are only as good as your last result. That is a saying that rings true in all sport, one minute you can be celebrating and the next struggling to understand a poor performance. The only way to keep moving forward is to get back into the winners circle and this is exactly what the horses are doing at the moment. After a fabulous four timer, Kevin sent out another double the following day as Erik The Red and Magic Jazz added to the tally and continued the flying form.
Erik The Red has been to the big meetings, performed with great credit but doesn’t have the wins to his name that his quality deserves. Some people may question attitude but a quick look at his runs show that he can be classed as one very unlucky horse. Fortunately he got his head back in front when smoothly taking the 1m2f Unison Eric Roberts Memorial Handicap at Doncaster.
At the end of his 3 year old season Erik racked up a hat-trick of wins, seeing his handicap mark soar and showing that he was a horse to follow. Connections felt that as a 4 year old the heritage handicaps were within his capabilities and what an exciting prospect he was. Erik certainly proved that he was up to the task but lady luck just would not shine on him. His hold style proved to cause many a troubled run and his 8 runs yielded 5 placed efforts. Never beaten far meant the handicapper would not let him out of his grips and Erik was duly kept at a mark that meant he had to compete at a tough level.
Undeterred Kevin and owner Frank Gillespie set out with some big targets in mind once again this year. Unfortunately 3 below par efforts in his first 3 runs this season saw Erik start disappointingly. With some nice races coming up in the second half of the season something was needed to spark him back to form. When Kevin found the 1m2f contest at Doncaster he felt that the track may be the key, where he had run so well last year to finish second in the November handicap.
Kevin Stott has been the man on board recently and retained his ride on the 5 year old. Erik has proven to be very versatile regards ground and trip but there is one factor that he does appreciate, a good, even gallop. With only 8 lining up for the race it wasn’t guaranteed but any fears were quickly dispelled. After leaving the stalls there wasn’t an immediate rush for the lead, as most were wanting to take a lead. After 50 yards Berkshire decided the slow pace didn’t suit and suddenly took a very keen hold, pulling his way to the front and setting off in a furious gallop. This pulled a couple of others to go forward splitting the run away leader and the hold up horses. Kevin got Erik settled into his rhythm at the back of the field, well covered up.
Berkshire was well clear after the first couple of furlongs and seemingly going very hard in front. The rest were more than happy to leave him and took their pace off the second placed horse, who now acted as the leader of the main group. Erik travelled well at the rear and dropped the bridle after a couple of keen strides. It was going to be a good test with the pace being strong but this was sure to suit Erik.
Through the first mile of the contest there was only one change, the distance Berkshire put between himself and the rest. The keen going leader was racing very freely and surely he was just setting it up for the rest. Nobody was too worried with the leader and were waiting patiently to make their move. It was when they rounded the home bend that the race’s complexion changed.
Moving into the straight the chasing pack began to move up on the leader and quickly closed the gap. There was half a mile to run and between the 4f and 3f marker the field swiftly moved up to the leader. As they closed Erik moved up too with Kevin keen to get closer for his final charge. Travelling strongly he glided along the stands side of the group to move up a couple of positions. The field began bunching up as one by one they moved closer for the race to heat up.
By the 3f marker Berkshire was beat and was swallowed up by his rivals. Now the main body of the field moved on and the jockeys began to lay down their main challenges. The new leaders now tried to kick on and take the race on. They couldn’t get the break needed and the hold up horses now came into play. The field were racing closely now and it was wide open. Kevin had snuck up through the field and was in a strong position to pounce. Erik was travelling very well, still hard on the bridle. Although the pair were looking like the biggest danger, Kevin was wary of getting to the front too soon.
Moving inside the final couple of furlongs and Erik was right on the tails of the leaders. Another Eclipse had made the same moves as Erik down the inner, the opposite side, and took the lead up at the 2f marker. This was now Kevin’s target and with his mount travelling well he had a decision to make. Although not wanting to hit the front too soon he had to kick for home at some point and it was 1 1/2f from home when he did. Erik responded and quickened up but his rival was already in top gear and was going to prove a worthy adversary.
The final furlong was a two horse race as the leading pair drew clear together. Erik started to get the better of his rival and edged in front for the first time. Another Eclipse had the aid of the rail but Erik was really giving his best and with Kevin working hard they were getting stronger with every stride. Having stayed 1m4f Erik’s proven stamina was showing. He finally broke his rival and moved into a length advantage which put the race to bed. Erik was enjoying himself and by the line had stretched the lead to 1 1/2 lengths, with a distance to the rest.
Erik The Red bounced back to form in great style and finally got the win he has deserved. Owner Frank Gillespie has had to suffer some narrow defeats but this win was sweet. He travelled like a dream before showing a good turn of foot, with his class shining through. Erik has always been seen as a horse capable of taking a big one but has been a little unlucky so far. There are some big targets left this season and he could well go for the Cambrideshire and November handicaps again this year, two races he ran well in last season.
Now the 2 year olds are in full swing they are really showing what a nice bunch they are. Having had so many ready to run, Kevin was forced to sit and wait but now is reaping the rewards as the juveniles are really hitting form and finding the winners enclosure. It’s the time of year when the nurseries really are in full flow but quite a few of Kevin’s are still needing a couple of runs to qualify. One who already earned a handicap mark was Magic Jazz who took the 6f BB Foodservice Nursery Handicap at Hamilton, his first foray into handicap company.
The son of Red Jazz had been one of the yard’s first 2 year old runners this season and each run has been an improvement on the last. Starting at Beverley, Magic Jazz showed promise from the first run. Missing the break and giving a lot of ground away, he went on to finish well staying on strongly to finish mid-division. That was a pleasing debut which was built upon on his next start at the same track. Finishing a couple of places higher, Jazz had shown he had learnt from his debut, jumping and travelling a lot better. Obviously he was building on his experience and looked like the ideal type to be aimed at nurseries.
Unfortunately the June closure of the yard prevented Magic Jazz from running again and proving he was going the right way. This may have been a blessing in disguise as the juvenile grew and strengthened during the enforced break. When the embargo was over he headed to Carlisle where once again he showed improvement. Showing plenty of pace he just bumped into one that day but was a very good second, clear of the rest. It was clear that he was due a win soon and the right opportunity needed to be found.
It is always interesting to see what the handicapper does with the 2 year olds opening marks. When he gave Magic Jazz a mark of 70, it was felt that it was a fair representation and Kevin set out to find a suitable race. The big change that he felt was needed was a step up to 6f, so the contest at Hamilton was Jazz’s chosen destination.
Joe Doyle has been enjoying a few winners recently and got the leg up to continue his good run. It was a small field that lined up with just the 4 runners for the £20,000 qualifier, with Hambleton Racing supplying half of the field. As well as Magic Jazz, they sent out the Karl Burke trained Spirit Of Zaam who was sent off as the 11/8 favourite. Tactics were not really going to be too much of an issue with the small field so when the gates opened Joe just allowed Jazz to run in his hands. The race was blown wide open as Spirit Of Zaam fluffed his lines in the stalls, failing to jump and giving away a good 7-8 lengths. Magic Jazz showed great pace early on and immediately took the rail, vying for the lead with Austin Powers. The pair were a length up on the outsider Sinaloa with the favourite tailed off at the back.
It was all pace early on as the two leaders free wheeled down the track. Joe was happy with his mount and seemed intent to let him travel as he pleased. The favourite was hard at work to try and close the gap and did tag on to the back of his 3 rivals after the first couple of furlongs, expending a lot of energy in the process. There was no change until the business end of the race, where the uphill finish would ensure a real ding dong battle.
Magic Jazz had shown great speed throughout the contest and was allowed his head by Joe. They moved on down to the final 2f still with the smallest lead but travelling well. The favourite was the first to challenge but having worked so hard early on he was struggling to make any further progress. Sinaloa was working hard to get on terms and began to make inroads on the leader, although Joe still held the rail where he was planning to make his run. The pace had never ceased so when they hit the rising ground it would surely test the 4 youngsters.
Having travelled smoothly it was time to kick on as Jazz moved into the final furlong. His closest foe, Austin Powers, had matched him stride for stride but now could not go on and quickly capitulated. This left Magic Jazz with a clear lead but also nothing on his outside. As Joe got to work the juvenile hung into the centre of the track, giving away not only ground but also the rail. This left a route open for Sinaloa who duly took advantage and came through to challenge. Joe was quick to make adjustments, pulling his stick through to his right hand and correcting his mount. Now Jazz moved back towards the rail, still holding a slight advantage but under plenty of pressure. The two were neck and neck as they drove for the line. It was the first time Jazz was trying 6f but the step up in trip was now looking like the game winner. Joe got him gathered up and as Jazz changed his legs he found a little bit extra. He got the better of his rival and stuck his head out. Seeing out the trip very well, Magic Jazz got off the mark by a neck victory.
Magic Jazz has improved with each run and deserved this win. Again he showed good, natural speed but it was his strength at the line which was very pleasing. He really appreciated the step up in trip and although he ran well from the front he doesn’t seem to need it and may even be better if he could get a lead. Hambleton Racing have enjoyed a good season so far and Jazz will certainly give them a few more days out to enjoy. The handicapper will now decide where Kevin goes with Magic Jazz but a similar event is surely well within his grasp.