Sodexo Gold Cup |
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| Grade 3, Ascot 15:35 £100,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 7f 180y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 29th October 2016 | |
1 Antony 11/1
2 Junction Fourteen 16/1
3 Saphir Du Rheu 9/4F
12 ran Distances: 4½l, shd, 3l
TIME 5m 50.50s (slow by 7.50s)
Gary and Jamie Moore win Sodexo Gold Cup with Antony
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Antony built on a successful seasonal return at Fontwell when powering away from his rivals in impressive fashion.
Receiving weight from all of his rivals the Gary Moore-trained six-year-old took full advantage to bag the £100,000 Grade Three pot and register the fourth win of his career.
Arriving on the scene late in the day in the three-mile contest, Jamie Moore's mount powered past early leader Junction Fourteen before quickening clear up the run in to post a four-and-a-half-length success.
Although the Paul Nicholls-trained Saphir Du Rheu was sent off the 9/4 favourite he could make no impression on the winner, finishing third a short-head behind Junction Fourteen.
Moore said: "I was most surprised to be perfectly honest. I thought he won by default at Fontwell. I thought going there he was a certainty.
"I was disappointed with him, but like all mine he needed the run and the run has done him the world of good.
"I thought the ground was quick enough for him today. He is a better horse on better ground. I was just worried that he kept jumping left. Whether that was the ground or something niggling him, but it didn't niggle him too bad.
"He (Jamie Moore) mentioned the other morning 'This is my Grand National horse' and I thought he was dreaming again. He is a small horse with a big heart."
The winning rider said: "He is a trier. All summer I've always thought he is well handicapped and I mentioned to Dad through the summer he could be a National horse.
"He won on his first try over three miles today and he was not stopping. He is still too low in the handicap (for the National) and is only a baby.
"We took him out at Fontwell in May as we didn't want to mess him up. It was quick ground today, but we were going for a decent prize.
"He is not in the Hennessy, but he needs a nice break between races so it might be we go for something at the end of November."
Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase
£100,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Antony (FR) 11/1 | J E Moore 10-1 |
G L Moore | 6 | |
| 2nd | 4½ | Junction Fourteen (IRE) 16/1 | D A Jacob 11-6 |
Miss E C Lavelle | 7 |
| 3rd | s.h | Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 9/4f | Nick Scholfield 11-11 |
P F Nicholls | 7 |
| 4th | 3 | Fourth Act (IRE) 20/1 | T J O'Brien 10-10 |
C L Tizzard | 7 |
| 5th | 1 | Tea For Two 6/1 | Lizzie Kelly (5) 11-12 |
Nick Williams | 7 |
| 6th | nk | A Good Skin (IRE) 6/1 | A P Heskin 10-12 |
T R George | 7 |
| 7th | nk | Voix D'eau (FR) 8/1 | N D Fehily 11-8 |
H Fry | 6 |
| 8th | 6 | Workbench (FR) 33/1 | Harry Skelton 10-9 |
D Skelton | 8 |
| 9th | ½ | Hadrian's Approach (IRE) 16/1 | Paul Moloney 11-0 |
N J Henderson | 9 |
| 10th | ½ | Buckhorn Timothy 10/1 | Brendan Powell 10-11 |
C L Tizzard | 7 |
| 11th | 13 | Un Ace (FR) 14/1 | D Bass 11-3 |
K C Bailey | 8 |
| PU | Killala Quay 18/1 | D N Russell 10-11 |
C E Longsdon | 9 |
