Clugston Construction May Hill Stakes |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 14:30 £70,000 added, 2yo fillies only, 1m, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 8th September 2016 | |
1 Rich Legacy 3/1
2 Grecian Light 8/1
3 Urban Fox 11/1
9 ran Distances: ¾l, 2¼l, 2¼l
TIME 1m 41.24s (slow by 5.24s)
Rich Legacy wins for Ralph Beckett and Oisin Murphy for Qatar Racing
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Rich Legacy, trained by Ralph Beckett, ran out a gutsy winner of the Group Two Clugston Construction May Hill Stakes over the straight mile, the second race on day two of the 2016 Ladbrokes St Leger Festival.
Having been held up in mid-division during the early stages of the mile contest, the well-backed 3/1 second-favourite launched a powerful assault on the lead under Oisin Murphy at the furlong pole.
The two-year-old daughter of Holy Roman Emperor stayed on resolutely for Murphy's urgings in the closing stages to register a game three-quarter length success from Charlie Appleby's Grecian Light with James Tate's Urban Fox, a further two and a quarter-lengths back in third.
Beckett, who along with Murphy was registering his first victory at this year's meeting, said: "She looked like she was going nowhere halfway. She raced very lazily but she really put it to bed well. I thought we were beat when she came past me at the half-furlong pole but she really came forward and did it well in the end.
"We didn't think of her as a lazy filly. She is a typical breeze-up filly. She surprised us winning first time out [Newmarket] as she hadn't shown us that form at home but they are often the best ones who save it for the track."
The Kimpton Down handler suggested a possible tilt at the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly in October on Arc day was on the cards for the Qatar Racing Limited-owned filly. Beckett remarked: "She is in the Prix Marcel Boussac [mile, Chantilly, October 3] but we will see what we do with her. I wouldn't mind running her again this year."
Beckett was also upbeat about the chances of Simple Verse in the DFS Park Hill Stakes (3.05pm) as she returns to Town Moor, the scene of her greatest triumph when winning the Ladbrokes St Leger at this meeting last year. Beckett said: "If she runs like she worked on Sunday, she will be right there."
Clugston Construction May Hill Stakes
(Fillies' Group 2) (Str)
£70,000 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (7) | Rich Legacy (IRE) 3/1 | Oisin Murphy 9-0 |
R M Beckett | 2 | |
| 2nd | (4) | ¾ | Grecian Light (IRE) 8/1 | W Buick 9-0 |
C Appleby | 2 |
| 3rd | (8) | 2¼ | Urban Fox 11/1 | M Harley 9-0 |
J Tate | 2 |
| 4th | (6) | 2¼ | Reachforthestars (IRE) 12/1 | Sam James 9-0 |
D O'Meara | 2 |
| 5th | (2) | 1¼ | Tiburtina (IRE) 18/1 | James Doyle 9-0 |
S Kirk | 2 |
| 6th | (3) | 1¼ | Blending 5/2f | L Dettori 9-0 |
J H M Gosden | 2 |
| 7th | (9) | hd | Hidden Steps 11/1 | T P Queally 9-0 |
A M Balding | 2 |
| 8th | (5) | 2¾ | Bongrace (IRE) 28/1 | Kevin Stott 9-0 |
K A Ryan | 2 |
| 9th | (1) | 9 | Kilmah 9/2 | F Norton 9-0 |
M Johnston | 2 |
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GRECIAN PLEASES
After a battling display in the Group Two Clugston Construction May Hill Stakes, Grecian Light succumbed to the winner, Rich Legacy, by three-quarters of a length. Although placed second the first two where two-and-a-quarter lengths in front of the next home, Urban fox. William Buick, jockey of the Godolphin-owned Shamardal filly, was nonetheless pleased with his mounts run
Buick said: "She was much more amenable today than at Goodwood last time (where she finished last in the Group Three Prestige Stakes). This race suited her better.
"I thought for a stride I had it, but she got run out of it."
Tainer Charlie Appleby, added: "She is probably a little bit short of top class but she tries very hard and she deserves to pick one of these races up.
"She is a nice genuine game filly that with a bit of luck we might nick one by the end of the season.
"I am very happy from my point of view that she's a nice filly but she is not at the top of out pecking order at home. I am just happy that she has been competitive there at a good level.
"We might have a go at the Rockfel (Group Two, Newmarket) with her next."
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2015 Turret Rocks Jim Bolger Kevin Manning Mrs June Judd 7/2
2014 Agnes Stewart E Lynam W J Lee Clipper Logistics Group Ltd 11/4
2013 Ihtimal Saeed bin Suroor S De Sousa Godolphin 11/10 fav
2012 Certify Mahmood Al Zarooni Mickael Barzalona Godolphin 4/6 fav
2011 Lyric Of Light Mahmood Al Zarooni Frankie Dettori Godolphin 9/1
2010 White Moonstone Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 8/11 fav
2009 Pollenator Richard Hannon Ryan Moore The Royal Ascot Racing Club 14/1
2008 Rainbow View John Gosden Jimmy Fortune George Strawbridge 1/3 fav
2007 Spacious James Fanshawe Jamie Spencer Cheveley Park Stud 9/4 fav
2006 Simply Perfect Jeremy Noseda Darryll Holland Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier 4/1
2005 Nasheej Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Malih L Al Basti 4/1
2004 Playful Act John Gosden Jimmy Fortune Sangster Family 8/1
2003 Kinnaird Patrick Haslam Kevin Darley Alastair Dinsmore 9/1
2002 Summitville James Given Michael Fenton Mountain High Partnership 11/2
2001 Half Glance Henry Cecil Richard Quinn Khalid Abdullah 5/2
2000 Karasta Sir Michael Stoute Johnny Murtagh H H Aga Khan 5/4 fav
1999 Teggiano Clive Brittain Frankie Dettori Abdullah Saeed Bul Hab 13/2
