Betfred TV Geoffrey Freer Stakes |
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| Group 3, Newbury 14:40 £60,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 5f 61y, Class 1 |
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| Saturday 16th August 2014 | |
1 Seismos 11/1
2 Willing Foe 7/1
3 Seal Of Approval 6/1
11 ran Distances: nk, 1l, nse
TIME 2m 54.77s (slow by 7.27s)
Seismos wins the Group 3 Betfred TV Geoffrey Freer Stakes.
Martin Harley: "It was a bit tacky out there but he sustained the gallop well. I'm sure Australia's in mind now."
Ed Dunlop confirms Red Cadeaux will go for his third Melbourne Cup in November after running well and finishing fourth.
Seismos snatched a narrow victory in a thrilling finish to the Betfred TV Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.
The ex-German six-year-old (11-1) kept on under pressure for Martin Harley to wear down Willing Foe in the closing stages and take the Group Three honours by a neck on just his third start for Newmarket handler Marco Botti.
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Seal Of Approval came with a wet sail from last place to deny Red Cadeaux for third on the line, a length behind the two principals.
Harley said: "He travelled well and they went a good gallop. He stuck to his guns well."
Mario Baratti, Botti's assistant, added: "He's a strong horse, a fighter, and he needs them to go a good pace. He had good form in Germany and he's stayed well."
Asked about a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup, he went on: "Marco isn't sure if he stays two miles. Maybe his best is a mile and five, but I'm sure we'll take him home and plan something."
Ed Dunlop said of Red Cadeaux: "He's a very hard horse to assess as he doesn't work very well at home any more, but I wanted to see him run well and he has done it again.
"He's still a legend. As long as Ronnie Arculli (owner) is happy, Australia's the plan and I would like to give him one more run before that.
"He's in the Irish Leger, the Grand Prix de Deauville, a Group One in Germany or he could go back to Australia early."
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Willing Foe so nearly made a winning comeback after 15 months off the course.
The seven-year-old, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by James Doyle, was caught in the closing stages and beaten a neck by Seismos in 2m 54.77s on good to soft turf.
Willing Foe was always prominent in the race, racing in second on the inside before disputing third.
He had every chance with three furlongs remaining, led two and a half furlongs out and ran on before finding the late challenge of Seismos too much. Willing Foe finished a length ahead of the third Seal Of Approval.
Saeed bin Suroor said: "Willing Foe ran really well in his first race for a long time.
"He had a setback but I was very happy with his performance today. We will see how he comes out of the race and keep the options open about where he will go next."
Betfred Tv Geoffrey Freer Stakes
£60,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 5f 61y, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
