Saint Gobain Weber Park Stakes |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 15:10 £100,000 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 12th September 2015 | |
1 Limato 9/2F
2 Markaz 20/1
3 Breton Rock 10/1
15 ran Distances: 3¾l, 1¼l, nk
TIME 1m 24.98s (slow by 1.68s)
Limato turned one of the most competitive-ever renewals of Doncaster's Park Stakes into a rout with a dazzling performance
Henry Candy produced a star performer on successive Saturdays as Limato, the 9/2 favourite, streaked away from his rivals to win by three and three-quarter lengths. His three-year-old contemporary Markaz was next best in the Group Two seven-furlong contest, with Breton Rock a length and a quarter third.
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Seven days earlier, Candy had saddled Twilight Son to take the Haydock Sprint Cup. "Watching the pair of them work upsides, not doing anything too much, you'd have to say they are both a bit special."
Limato, who won his first five races, regained the winning thread after being beaten by Muhaarar in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. "I've always kept the faith," said Candy, "and I was desperate to get him back racing as he's just been going up and down the gallops since Ascot. He has now grown up a bit, got a bit of a physical presence to him, some stature. And that makes it all easier for him, so he comes forward mentally as well.
The Tagula gelding had been campaigned over six furlongs until today. "The way he won today you'd say he'd get a mile," said Candy, "which he's actually bred to do, and which opens up all sorts of exciting possibilities for next year. But the Prix de la Foret over seven is the next most likely possibility.
"Now he has got a bit older and stronger, I think he can handle good to soft, which opens up a lot more opportunities, as does his ability to get the trip. I think he might get lost in the sprinting world now if he is going to be that laidback early on. He does quicken up amazingly, so I suppose he could get himself out of trouble over six but I think I would be happier over seven and, having watched that, you wouldn't rule out a mile
"It was very exciting and Andrea couldn't believe the gears he's got - he said: 'thank God he is a good horse, he got me out of trouble.' He goes to sleep in the stalls completely. Graham [Lee, jockey] said that he was resting a leg in the stalls when he won at Redcar and he jumped so fast, he nearly fell out of the back. Today, he went to sleep and stayed asleep - he got into every bit of trouble imaginable but, as soon as he sees any daylight, he's a great help to any jockey."
The three-year-old had the every horse in front of him as the field passed the halfway stage and, although he had no match for the winner's finishing kick, he stayed on strongly to claim second, a length and a quarter in front of third placed Breton Rock.
Hills was happy enough with his colt following the race and revealed he could head to Newmarket on his next start.
"He's run a good race," said the trainer.
"They went very quick but he's stayed on well enough. The winner is a good horse. I think he'll head to Newmarket for the Challenge Stakes (October 9) next over seven furlongs."
Trainer David Simcock was also pleased with the performance of Breton Rock.
"He's run well," said Simcock.
"He's better on softer ground and has run right up to his best. We've no excuses."
The Park Stakes
£100,000 added, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 1
15 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (7) | Limato (IRE) 9/2f | Andrea Atzeni 9-0 |
H Candy | 3 | |
| 2nd | (4) | 3¾ | Markaz (IRE) 20/1 | P Hanagan 9-0 |
B W Hills | 3 |
| 3rd | (9) | 1¼ | Breton Rock (IRE) 10/1 | U Rispoli 9-4 |
D M Simcock | 5 |
| 4th | (11) | nk | Naadirr (IRE) 25/1 | M Harley 9-4 |
M Botti | 4 |
| 5th | (15) | 1¼ | Coulsty (IRE) 14/1 | P Cosgrave 9-4 |
R Hannon | 4 |
| 6th | (14) | hd | Cable Bay (IRE) 12/1 | S De Sousa 9-4 |
C Hills | 4 |
| 7th | (1) | 4½ | Tupi (IRE) 25/1 | P J Dobbs 9-0 |
R Hannon | 3 |
| 8th | (2) | nk | Lightning Moon (IRE) 6/1 | G Lee 9-4 |
Ed Walker | 4 |
| 9th | (8) | 8 | Ansgar (IRE) 50/1 | R Winston 9-4 |
Miss S J Harty | 7 |
| 10th | (13) | ½ | Safety Check (IRE) 7/1 | W Buick 9-4 |
C Appleby | 4 |
| 11th | (3) | s.h | Home Of The Brave (IRE) 11/2 | Harry Bentley 9-0 |
H Palmer | 3 |
| 12th | (12) | s.h | Brazos (IRE) 100/1 | F Lynch 9-4 |
C E Brittain | 4 |
| 13th | (10) | 1¾ | Ivawood (IRE) 8/1 | S M Levey 9-0 |
R Hannon | 3 |
| 14th | (5) | 7 | Code Red 16/1 | M Dwyer 9-0 |
W R Muir | 3 |
| 15th | (6) | 2 | Toocoolforschool (IRE) 28/1 | Graham Gibbons 9-0 |
K R Burke | 3 |
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2014 Ansgar Miss S J Harty James Doyle Ms Chynel Phelan & Shane Fox 7/2
2013 Viztoria Eddie Lynam Wayne Lordan Sheila Lavery 7/2
2012 Libranno Richard Hannon Kieren Fallon McDowell Racing 16/1
2011 Premio Loco Chris Wall George Baker Bernard Westley 15/8 fav
2010 Balthazaar’s Gift Clive Cox Philip Robinson H E Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan 16/1
2009 Duff Edward Lynam IRE Fran Berry Kilboy Estate 7/1
2008 Arabian Gleam Jeremy Noseda Johnny Murtagh Saeed Suhail 9/1
2007 Arabian Gleam Jeremy Noseda Johnny Murtagh Saeed Suhail 5/2
2006 Iffraaj Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 4/6 fav
2005 Iffraaj Michael Jarvis Philip Robinson Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum 7/1
2004 Pastoral Pursuits Hughie Morrison Steve Drowne The Pursuits Partnership 5/1
2003 Polar Ben James Fanshawe Jamie Spencer Simon Gibson 5/1
2002 Duck Row James Toller Richard Hughes Duke Of Devonshire 8/1
2001 Tough Speed Sir Michael Stoute Kieren Fallon Saeed Suhail 6/1
2000 Distant Music Barry Hills Michael Hills Khalid Abdullah 4/1
1999 Sugarfoot Nigel Tinkler Pat Eddery Mrs D Wright 15/2
