racing_news/

David Junior wins Emirates Airline Champion Stakes
15/10/05

Jamie Spencer might be champion jockey-elect, but you could have heard a pin drop with racegoers open-mouted in disbelief as he stunned the huge crowd when springing a 25-1 surprise on David Junior in the feature Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

Only Hurry Harriet (33-1) in 1973 has produced a bigger shock in this prestigious race since World War Two, but Spencer is adamant that David Junior, who got home by three parts of a length from French challenger Pride, was a worthy winner.

The rider said: ”I have loved David Junior since I won the Select Stakes on him at Goodwood last month. That was a messy race, with Darryll (Holland) pulling up in front, and it developed into a three and a half furlong sprint.

“He did well to win that day, but he felt a different horse altogether in today’s fast-run race and I was never going to get beat.

“My only worry was that he would idle in front and he did, but, though I got stuck wide and had to come back from further than I had planned and everything went wrong that could go wrong, he is still won, which says a lot about the quality of the horse.

“To win a Group 1 against the older horses is a real bonus and shows what a good horse David Junior is. He’ll be one hell of a horse next year and, provided Godolphin don’t nick him, he could make my season.”

Brian Meehan, who trains David Junior for David Sullivan, one of the leading lights in Birmingham FC, was ecstatic afterwards - and justifiably so.

He said: ”We have been very patient with this horse and taken our time, and now he has paid us back big time. I was in Keeneland when David Junior won at Goodwood, but Jamie was on the phone straight after the race and assured me that he would make himself available for this race.

“He is one of the best 10 furlong horses around, and, though you can never be confident when you bring an outsider for a Group One, he was in top order and I knew he would run well.

“We will have to see whether he gets an invitation from Hong Kong, but there is always next year. He definitely stays in training.”

3.10pm THE EMIRATES AIRLINE CHAMPION STAKES

Class 1, Group 1, £433,200 Total Prize Fund. For 3yo+, 1m 2f. Weights: 3yo colts and geldings 8st 11lb; fillies 8st 8lb; 4yo+ colts and geldings 9st 2lb; fillies 8st 13lb. Penalties: in 2005, a winner of a Group 1 or 2 race 4lb. Weight for age: 3yo from 4yo+ 2lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £251,256; 2nd: £95,304; 3rd: £47,652; 4th: £21,660; 5th: £10,830; 6th: £6,498

1 DAVID JUNIOR (USA) (Roldvale Ltd) Brian Meehan 3-8-11 Jamie Spencer [13] 25-1
2 PRIDE (FR) (N P Bloodstock) Alain de Royer Dupre FR 5-8-13 Christophe Soumillon [4] 12-1
3 MARAAHEL (IRE) (Hamdan Al Maktoum) Sir Michael Stoute 4-9-02 Richard Hills [9] 25-1
4 ORATORIO (IRE) (Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor) Aidan O'Brien IRE 3-8-11 Kieren Fallon [2] 9-4fav
5 ALKAASED (USA) (M Charlton) Luca Cumani 5-9-02 Gerard Mosse [7]
6 RAKTI (Gary Tanaka) Michael Jarvis 6-9-02 Philip Robinson [5]
7 CHIC (Cheveley Park Stud) Sir Michael Stoute 5-8-13 Ryan Moore [10]
8 ALEXANDER GOLDRUN (IRE) (Mrs N O’Callaghan) Jim Bolger IRE 4-8-13 Kevin Manning [3] 9 LAYMAN (USA) (Godolphin) Saeed bin Suroor 3-8-11 Frankie Dettori [1]
10 PINSON (IRE) (Baron Guy De Rothschild) Jean Claude Rouget FR 3-8-11 Stephane Pasquier [6]
11 PROSPECT PARK (Wertheimer Et Frere) Carlos Laffon-Parias FR 4-9-02 Olivier Peslier [14]
12 WHAZZAT (Bill Gredley) Barry Hills 3-8-08 Seb Sanders [11]
13 TOUCH OF LAND (FR) (Gary Tanaka) Alex Pantall FR 5-9-02 Christophe Lemaire [15]
14 ROB ROY (USA) (Philip Newton) Sir Michael Stoute 3-8-11 Mick Kinane [12]
15 ECHO OF LIGHT (Godolphin) Saeed bin Suroor 3-8-11 Ted Durcan [8]

15 ran Time: 2min 5.43sec Dist: 3/4, 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1, sh, sh, 1 1/4, sh, 6, 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 2, 1, 9 Breeder: A Appleton Breeding: ch c Pleasant Tap - Paradise River (Irish River)
Tote Win: £31.70 Places: £6.60; £4.60; £7.00 Exacta: £438.10