2012 Two-Year-Old Stakes

racing news/

Morning Post Delivers 2 Year Old Shock
12/09/13

1 Morning Post 100/1
2 Azagal 12/1
3 Mawfoor 12/1
NR: Der Blaue Reiter (IRE)
21 ran Distances: ½l, hd, shd
TIME 1m 20.84s (slow by 3.54s)

There was a shock result in the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Race at Doncaster this afternoon as 100/1 shot Morning Post dug deep to record a half-a-length success.

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The Kevin Ryan-trained colt was a maiden going into this race and was having the seventh start of his career but was largely ignored by punters given the fact he had finished last in a Haydock nursery just five days ago.

However, connections opted to fit blinkers to the two-year-old for the first time and this proved to be an inspired decision as it sparked the requisite improvement needed in order to land a huge payday.

Jockey Paul Mulrennan was surprised that his mount went off such a big price.

"I got a lovely pitch in behind the leaders. If anything, I probably got there a bit soon," said Mulrennan.

"Kevin (Ryan) said to me this morning no way should this horse be 100/1. He has done some nice bits of work and the blinkers have just done the trick for him. He has always worked like a nice horse at home but has just been dossing on the track but he had the blinkers on today for the big pot. He had a look round today but is only a two-year-old and a big baby. He is a nice horse and going the right way."

Joint-owner Matt Morgan was equally delighted for the horse, who was named after his late father, Ivan. Morgan is no stranger to big-race success, having won the Gimcrack at York last season with Blaine (also trained by Ryan).

"We're delighted with this as he was named after my father, Ivan, who was a postman. Mum will be really happy with that as she's watching at home. You could say that the postman has delivered today!

"He has always had ability. He has been in three sales races and Ryan Moore said after he rode him on Saturday to put the blinkers on him and just bounce him out and make all. Paul (Mulrennan) said that he'd watched the videos of his previous races and agreed. That's what he has gone and done today so happy days!

"When Blaine won the Gimcrack we were hopeful on the day but today we just came for a day out. This is just an absolute turn-up - though I had a couple of quid on him on the Tote just in case."

Weatherbys Insurance 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes
£356,100 added, 2yo only, 6f 110y, Class 2
21 ran
Going: Good to Soft

THE COST OF HALF A LENGTH

Trainer Tim Easterby was left slightly ruing the difference half a length meant after his charge Azagal narrowly failed to catch 100/1 winner Morning Post in the valuable Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes. "There's a lot of money between first and second," he said, "But we're still delighted with her. She's just a gorgeous filly - look at that head on her - and we think a lot of her."

The difference between first and second was £77,500 but Azagal, a €22,000 yearling, still earned nearly £60,000. The daughter of Azamour, winner of two nurseries in July and sixth in the Lowther Stakes on her previous outing, may turn out again quickly in the Firth Of Clyde Stakes at Ayr on Saturday week.

"She's had a hard enough race here," added Easterby, "so we'll see how she is during the week. But we'll certainly enter her on Monday."

"No excuses," said Azagal's rider Duran Fentiman. "She ran all the way to the line and she's as brave as they come."