Socialites Electric Cigarettes Doncaster Cup |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 15:05 £100,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 1  |
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| Friday 11th September 2015 | |
1 Pallasator 9/2F
2 Clondaw Warrior 7/1
3 Suegioo 13/2
11 ran Distances: ¾l, ¾l, 1¼l
TIME 3m 49.60s (fast by 0.40s)
Pallasator (Andrea Atzeni) wins the Socialites e-Cigarettes Doncaster Cup for Sir Mark Prescott
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The quirky but talented Pallasator put his best foot forward, staying on strongly to record a three quarter length success over Clondaw Warrior.
The 9/2 favourite put in a fine performance under Andrea Atzeni, despite playing up in the preliminaries, and dug deep to repel his rivals as the field thundered towards the line.
Sheikh Fahad al Thani, whose Qatar Racing operation owns the horse, was visibly delighted following the Group Two contest.
"He's quirky but very talented like every other good horse," said the Sheikh.
"Sir Mark (Prescott - trainer) has done a fantastic job with him. To get him to the start was something to see as well. He always plays up a bit but then always behaves when he gets to the start. As soon as he got into the stalls, he's fine - the perfect gentleman.
"Andrea has given him a beautiful ride as well. He is sometimes frustrating to watch but, as long as he gets to Champions Day, then it'll be fine. He peaks at this time of year and he did really well the same time of year last year.
"With horses sometimes you have to wait for them to come right. If you're patient, you get the rewards.
"It would be fantastic to win on Champions Day. The hardest races to win are on that day and the best races are on that day so hopefully he can win there (his target is the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot).
"I probably love racing even more now than when I started in it. Getting my brothers involved has been great too as the more people that are involved, the more you enjoy it."
Atzeni was also full of praise for the horse following the race.
"We know what he is like - he can be a bit quirky before the race but, once the stalls open, he is very professional. He travelled well and I got a lovely lead into the race, I probably got there sooner than I wanted to but they took us on quite early so I had to commit when I did. He was getting a little bit lonely out in front but was on a going day today.
"It was a nice, even pace and I think he likes to aim at something. It's great for Sir Mark, the team and Rosie (Jessop), who rides him every day - I don't know how she does it, I wouldn't turn up at work if I knew I had him first lot!"
The Willie Mullins-trained Clondaw Warrior stayed on well to finish three quarters of a length behind 9/2 favourite Pallsator.
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Ruby Walsh, whose wife is part of a syndicate which owns the horse, said: "We're happy. He'll be back and will have plenty more chances on another day. He ran well and we will just keep our options open with him.
"We will probably look to run him in the Prix Du Cadran but we have plenty of opportunities available to us.
"Simenon [finished fifth] also ran a much better race today than he did at York. Both horses have come on again and we will get them better. They'll both be back to fight another day."
Marco Botti,trained of third-placed Suegioo (13/2), was happy with the son of Manduro, but would have liked softer underfoot conditions. He remarked: "I think he would have liked more cut in the ground. It has dried up a little bit and it looked like if it had got any softer it would have been in his favour. He is in great form, he kept on improving and we have to be pleased with the result.
"He likes it when horses come back to him but the first two horses kept on finding and pulled out another length."
Botti added: "I thought it was a good performance, he ran up to his mark of 107 and he will probably go to Ascot for the long distance race on QIPCO Champions Day."
Socialites Electric Cigarettes Doncaster Cup
(British Champions Series) (Group 2)
£100,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (1) | Pallasator 9/2f | Andrea Atzeni 9-3 |
Sir Mark Prescott | 6 | |
| 2nd | (2) | ¾ | Clondaw Warrior (IRE) 7/1 | L Dettori 9-3 |
W P Mullins | 8 |
| 3rd | (9) | ¾ | Suegioo (FR) 13/2 | M Harley 9-3 |
M Botti | 6 |
| 4th | (5) | 1¼ | Fun Mac (GER) 5/1 | R Havlin 9-3 |
H Morrison | 4 |
| 5th | (3) | 2¼ | Simenon (IRE) 14/1 | James Doyle 9-3 |
W P Mullins | 8 |
| 6th | (10) | 4½ | Seamour (IRE) 6/1 | B A Curtis 9-3 |
B Ellison | 4 |
| 7th | (4) | 1 | William Of Orange 7/1 | L Morris 9-3 |
Sir Mark Prescott | 4 |
| 8th | (6) | 1¼ | Havana Beat (IRE) 9/1 | W Buick 9-3 |
A M Balding | 5 |
| 9th | (7) | ½ | Kalann (IRE) 25/1 | L F Roche 9-3 |
Miss S J Harty | 8 |
| 10th | (8) | 6 | Times Up 33/1 | G Lee 9-3 |
E A L Dunlop | 9 |
| 11th | (11) | 3 | Taws 33/1 | P Makin 9-0 |
B R Millman | 4 |
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2014 Estimate Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore The Queen 11/8 fav
2013 Times Up Ed Dunlop Ryan Moore Mrs I Stewart & M Meacock 3/1
2012 Times Up John Dunlop Eddie Ahern Mrs I Stewart & M Meacock 5/1
2011 Saddler’s Rock John Oxx IRE Niall McCullagh Michael O’Flynn 11/2
2010 Samuel John Gosden William Buick Normandie Stud Ltd 5/1
2009 Askar Tau Marcus Tregoning Ryan Moore Nurlan Bizakov 5/2
2008 Honolulu Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor 15/8 fav
2007 Septimus Aidan O'Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor 11/10 fav
2006 Sergeant Cecil Rod Millman Frankie Dettori Terry Cooper Evens fav
2005 Millenary John Dunlop Richard Quinn Neil Jones 11/4
2004 DH Kasthari Howard Johnson Johnny Murtagh Elliott Bros 14/1
DH Millenary John Dunlop Richard Quinn Neil Jones 7/1
2003 Persian Punch David Elsworth Martin Dwyer Jeff Smith 3/1
2002 Boreas Luca Cumani Jamie Spencer Aston House Stud 7/2
2001 Alleluia Sir Mark Prescott Jamie Mackay Sonia Rogers 14/1
2000 Enzeli John Oxx IRE Johnny Murtagh H H Aga Khan 15/2
1999 Far Cry Martin Pipe Kevin Darley Nicky Chambers 6/1
