Betfred Champagne Stakes |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 13:50 £120,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 7f 6y, Class 1  |
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1 Iberian 3/1
2 Sunway 6/1
3
Rosallion 4/5F
5 ran Distances: 2l, 1½l, ¾l
Time: 1m 27.35s (slow by 4.25s)
Iberian is a stylish winner of the Group 2 @Betfred Champagne Stakes at @DoncasterRaces under @TomMarquand for @cbhills pic.twitter.com/ConOWXSktP https://t.co/SQ8UyISgci via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) September 16, 2023
Charlie Hills’ Iberian went into plenty of notebooks when making an impressive debut at Newbury, but inexperience took its toll at Goodwood when immediately thrust into Group Two company in the Vintage Stakes.
A length second to Haatem on that occasion, connections retained the faith in the exciting son of Lope De Vega, who had another Richard Hannon-trained runner in his way on Town Moor in the shape of the unbeaten Rosallion.
Tom Marquand was keen to shadow the 5-6 favourite up the Doncaster straight, but whereas Rosallion was unable to land a blow when push came to shove, Iberian demonstrated his class, and once hitting the front a furlong out he surged clear to come home two lengths ahead of runner-up Sunway.
Last year’s winner Chaldean went on to land the Dewhurst Stakes before returning at three to claim the 2000 Guineas and this year’s 3-1 scorer is likely to have similarly lofty aspirations, with both Betfair and Paddy Power going 8-1 from 16s for Newmarket’s end-of-season juvenile Group One and 20-1 for the opening Classic of 2024.
Hills said: “That was just what the doctor ordered, perfect. He’s a very exciting horse.
“Listening to Tom when he came back, he said he gave him some feel, he’s got an electric turn of foot and put the race to bed very well.
“His work had been unbelievable at home so we just wanted him to show that on a racecourse and I think he’s done that today.
“He learned plenty at Goodwood, where he was unlucky as he was drawn one. I think William (Buick) was conscious to teach him how to do things properly, but he was probably just a bit far out of his racing ground that day and inexperience caught him out. But he did finish well.
“The ground is still pretty soft today, but when the ground is quicker I think you’ll see a better horse.
“It will be the Dewhurst next. Why can’t he be a Guineas horse, he’ll get a mile no problem, his dam stayed really well.
“He’s a straightforward horse with a great attitude, he’s so professional.
“Distant Music won this for my dad so it’s nice to win it.”
Champagne Stakes (Group 2)
£120,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 7f 6y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3) Iberian 2 9-2 Charles Hills Tom Marquand 3/1
2 (4) 2 Sunway 2 9-2 David Menuisier Oisin Murphy 6/1
3 (5) 1½ Rosallion 2 9-2 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 4/5F
4 (2) ¾ Mountain Bear 2 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 7/1
5 (1) 11 Power Mode 2 9-2 Alice Haynes Kieran O'Neill 50/1
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2022 Chaldean
2021 Bayside Boy
2020 Chindit
2019 Threat
2018 Too Darn Hot
2017 Seahenge
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
