Betfred Temple Stakes |
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| Group 2, Haydock Park 15:45 £100,000 added, 3yo plus, 5f, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 23rd May 2015 | |
1 Pearl Secret 10/1
2 Jack Dexter 12/1
3 Wind Fire 40/1
NR: Pretend (IRE)
11 ran Distances: nk, ½l, 1l
TIME 1m 0.36s (slow by 2.16s)
Pearl Secret holds on from the fast-finishing Jack Dexter to win the Temple Stakes for David Barron
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One of three sprinters carrying the colours of owners Qatar Racing, the David Barron-trained Pearl Secret had to hold the late surge of Jack Dexter after Goldream and Take Cover set the pace in a fast and furious five-furlong dash.
In a dramatic race that saw last year's winner Hot Streak slowly away, G Force almost brought down and Great Minds hampered as the pack tightened up at the business end, it was Pearl Secret who lifted the Group Two spoils under George Baker.
Jack Dexter, who was also interfered with, came late on the scene and was only a neck down at the line. Wind Fire was half a length away in third.
Baker said: "We went a good, strong gallop. He relaxed into a lovely rhythm. I probably got there a bit too soon,. he idled when he got to the front. He's a smart horse on his day. I could see how tight it was and I went for a safe passage, which paid off."
Pearl Secret was slashed to 16-1 from 33-1 for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot with MansionBet .
Barron said: "We've been waiting for that to happen for a while. It's always a bit difficult with him, though, as he needs some give in the ground.
"We trained him all winter and never missed a day, and then when he ran in France two weeks ago he ran so badly we wondered why we'd bothered. I gave him a piece of work on Monday which was very good and that's all I've done with him.
"He wouldn't go to Ascot if it was firm, as he wants the ground no quicker than today. He's always been very quick, and has taken our eye from day one."
Betfred Temple Stakes (British Champions Series)
£100,000 added, 3yo plus, 5f, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | Draw | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (8) | Pearl Secret 10/1 | G Baker 9-4 |
T D Barron | 6 | |
| 2nd | (3) | nk | Jack Dexter 12/1 | F Lynch 9-4 |
J S Goldie | 6 |
| 3rd | (6) | ½ | Wind Fire (USA) 40/1 | P Hanagan 9-1 |
D H Brown | 4 |
| 4th | (2) | 1 | Danzeno 5/1 | A Mullen 9-4 |
M Appleby | 4 |
| 5th | (4) | 2 | Justice Day (IRE) 12/1 | J F Egan 9-4 |
D R C Elsworth | 4 |
| 6th | (11) | hd | Hot Streak (IRE) 7/2f | Oisin Murphy 9-4 |
K A Ryan | 4 |
| 7th | (12) | 1¾ | Goldream 13/2 | M Harley 9-4 |
R M H Cowell | 6 |
| 8th | (9) | s.h | G Force (IRE) 8/1 | D Tudhope 9-8 |
D O'Meara | 4 |
| 9th | (7) | 1¾ | Kingsgate Native (IRE) 20/1 | Graham Gibbons 9-4 |
R M H Cowell | 10 |
| 10th | (1) | nk | Take Cover 8/1 | A Kirby 9-4 |
D C Griffiths | 8 |
| 11th | (10) | 2½ | Great Minds (IRE) 13/2 | J P Spencer 9-4 |
T Stack | 5 |
| NR | (5) | Pretend (IRE) 5/1 | W Buick 9-4 |
C Appleby | 4 |
