Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 15:00 £75,000 added, 2yo only, 7f 6y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 16th September 2017 | |
1 Seahenge 8/1
2
Hey Gaman 6/1
3
Mythical Magic 9/4F
7 ran NR: Grand Koonta Distances: nk, nk, 4l
Time: 1m 25.78s (slow by 2.78s)
Seahenge booked his ticket to next month's Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket with a hard-fought victory.
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While Ryan Moore was aboard the shorter-priced Mendelssohn, it was Donnacha O'Brien who landed the Group Two honours on Seahenge (8-1), who had only finished fifth behind Expert Eye in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.
Dream Today and Hey Gaman were the two leaders until the race got serious in the final quarter mile.
Mendelssohn was one of the first beaten while Seahenge came with a strong challenge to pip the gritty Hey Gaman by a neck. Mythical Magic was third.
O'Brien senior, enjoying a second Champagne triumph after Westphalia in 2008, said: "Donnacha won his maiden on him at Naas and he was very green. He's a big horse and then he went to Goodwood. Ryan rode him and loved him, but said he was very green and babyish. Obviously he learnt a lot there.
"Donnacha gave him a lovely ride today and he came home well. He won very well and you'd be delighted with him.
"Donnacha went out to teach him a lot and educate him like we do with all our two-year-olds.
"They didn't go very fast so he did well to win."
He added: "With him we came here thinking he could be one for the Dewhurst and that looks the obvious next step.
"He'll be suited by better ground."
The winning rider said: "He was very aggressive going down to the start, so I wanted to take my time with him.
"They went a nice gallop so got a lead and he stayed on well.
"When they quickened from the three I just got caught a bit, but I let him find his feet and when he picked up two out I thought he'd get there.
"My lad will be suited with stepping up in trip again and I think he's a nice horse.
"He's still a bit babyish but has plenty of ability."
James Tate, trainer of the runner-up, said: "I'm delighted and gutted at the same time, that's what second is all about.
"He's run a cracker and a career-best, but we've just met one that was able to quicken by us today.
"He could try something like the Racing Post Trophy, but that was his seventh run today so I will probably put him away.
"He's just run off 548 Kilos and he's got bigger as the season's gone on. He'll definitely be a better horse next year.
"I nearly didn't run him today as he really does prefer it softer than this. With a horse that likes soft ground, you have one eye on many races.
"He'll never run on ground with the word 'firm' in it and ideally he wants the word 'soft' in it."
Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes (Group 2)
£75,000 added, 2yo only, 7f 6y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (6) | Seahenge (USA) 8/1 | D O'Brien 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 2 | |
| 2nd | (7) | nk | Hey Gaman 6/1 | M Harley 9-0 |
J Tate | 2 |
| 3rd | (8) | nk | Mythical Magic (IRE) 9/4f | James Doyle 9-0 |
C Appleby | 2 |
| 4th | (5) | 4 | Red Mist 7/2 | Andrea Atzeni 9-0 |
S Crisford | 2 |
| 5th | (2) | 4 | Dream Today (IRE) 10/3 | Oisin Murphy 9-0 |
M Johnston | 2 |
| 6th | (1) | 3 | Island Sound 100/1 | George Wood 9-0 |
Mrs H Main | 2 |
| 7th | (3) | 22 | Mendelssohn (USA) 9/1 | R L Moore 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 2 |
| NR | (4) | Grand Koonta (IRE) | A Kirby 9-0 |
C G Cox | 2 |
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2016 Rivet W J Haggas Andrea Atzeni The Starship Partnership 7/4f
2015 Emotionless C Appleby W Buick Godolphin 8/13f
2014 Estidhkaar Richard Hannon Paul Hanagan Hamdan Al Maktoum 10/11f
2013 Outstrip Charlie Appleby Mikael Barzalona Godolphin 13/8 jf
2012 Toronado Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Carmichael Humber 11/4
2011 Trumpet Major Richard Hannon Richard Hughes John Manley 7/1
2010 Saamidd Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 5/6 fav
2009 Poet’s Voice Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 10/1
2008 Westphalia Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh M Tabor, D Smith, S Magnier 100/30
2007 McCartney Mark Johnston Ryan Moore Sheikh Mohammed 8/1
2006 Vital Equine Eoghan O'Neill Richard Mullen Fasthandle Ltd 16/1
2005 DH Close To You Terry Mills John Egan Miss J A Leighs 8/1
DH Silent Times Eoghan O'Neiill Jamie Spencer John Fretwell 6/1
2004 Etlaala Barry Hills Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 6/1
2003 Lucky Story Mark Johnston Darryll Holland Abdulla Buhaleeba 2/1
2002 Almushahar David Loder Frankie Dettori Hamdan Al Maktoum 8/11 fav
2001 Dubai Destination David Loder Frankie Dettori Sheikh Mohammed 3/1
2000 Noverre David Loder FR Frankie Dettori Godolphin SNC 7/2
1999 Distant Music Barry Hills Michael Hills Khalid Abdullah 13/8 fav
