racing news /

Moonstone Magic in Dubai Duty Free
21/04/12

1 Moonstone Magic 7/2
2 Radio Gaga 10/1
3 Electrelane 10/1
9 ran Distances: 3¾l, 9l, 3½l
TIME 1m 31.56s (slow by 8.56s)
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Trainer: Ralph Beckett

Ralph Beckett cast his thoughts towards Ireland as Moonstone Magic earned herself a Classic mission of some sort when coming well away from the opposition to take the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury.

Moonstone Magic
© Racehorse Photos

The recognised 1000 Guineas trial, better known as the Fred Darling, had not attracted a high-profile field, but no-one had even set eyes on Moonstone Magic on a racecourse until just over a week ago, when she won a maiden at Leicester.

Jim Crowley dropped the well-backed 7-2 shot to the rear of the field, but gradually began to mount a challenge on the wide outside and helped her to quicken three and three-quarter lengths clear of Radio Gaga, who was nine lengths clear of Beckett's third-placed Electrelane.

"She was too big to run last year and her dam (Woodcock Moon) had such bad knees I never even ran her," said the trainer.

"She needs some give in the ground. She's not in anything, but she'll have to run in a Guineas - maybe the Irish will be most suitable."

Andrew Balding's Minimise Risk (15-8 favourite) survived a stewards' inquiry after a narrow defeat of Uriah Heep in the Bathwick Tyres Maiden Stakes.

The trainer said: "Jamie Spencer felt he had a hard enough race, but he's a horse with a good future. He is in the Derby and we were thinking of the Lingfield trial if he won."

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Moonstone Magic R M Beckett	Jim Crowley 9st 0lbs	7 - 2 Winner
2	Radio Gaga E S McMahon	R Mullen 9st 0lbs	10 - 1 3 3/4 lengths
3	Electrelane R M Beckett	N Callan 9st 0lbs	10 - 1 9 lengths
4	Switcher Tom Dascombe	R Kingscote 9st 0lbs	8 - 1 3 1/2 lengths
5	Best Terms R Hannon	R L Moore 9st 0lbs	5 - 2 1 length
6	Brick Tops D M Simcock	J P Spencer 9st 0lbs	12 - 1 2 lengths
7	Villeneuve W R Muir	Martin Dwyer 9st 0lbs	40 - 1 1 1/4 length
8	Roger Sez T D Easterby	D Allan 9st 0lbs	15 - 2 8 lengths
9	Fillionaire M R Channon	Martin Harley 9st 0lbs	6 - 1 4 1/2 lengths