Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes |
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| Group 3, Newbury 15:05 £60,000 added, 3yo only, 7f, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 21st April 2018 | |
1 James Garfield 3/1
2 Expert Eye 7/4F
3 Hey Gaman 3/1
7 ran NR: Arrogant Distances: ¾l, shd, ¾l
Time: 1m 26.98s (slow by 4.88s)
James Garfield wins for George Scott and an air-punching Frankie Dettori
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Newmarket trainer George Scott, 29, was delighted with the effort of the Exceed & Excel colt who will now go for the 2000 Guineas (G1, 1m, May 5 at Newmarket), with Dettori again on board.
Scott remarked: "I am delighted with that performance.
"Frankie is keen to go to Guineas and he is the man who knows the most about that. I don't see why not, as James Garfield finished out his really race and was tough again.
"It is his attitude that sets him apart - he has this will to win in everything he does. At home, if he is picking the grass, he wants the whole paddock or in the box, he wants the whole box.
"He is just so tough - a lot of credit goes to the team back home, because he takes plenty of managing, and to Bill and Tim (Gredley) for breeding him. It is just a great story for of all of us including my wife Polly - we married in September. It is just a dream for me - I feel very lucky.
"He will be my first Classic runner. This is a trial so he will come on for the race - he is quite a stuffy horse - he was fit enough and now will freshen him up with a couple of weeks to the Guineas.
"He is just so tenacious - he has a wonderful attitude. Frankie is so perfect for this horse - and these big days - he is so cool, while I am shaking and charging around the place.
"I would hope Frankie would be free for the Guineas. He is a great friend of mine, a great friend of the Gredleys - he lived next door to the Gredleys for many years - he terrorised them so he owes them!
"I would imagine Expert Eye (the 7/4 favourite who was second) will come on a lot for the race. He was ridden with a future in mind. He was beaten fair and square today and we were going away again at the line.
"We will enjoy today and go for the Guineas. I love trying to compete at the top - we are fortunate enough to have a horse like this so early on (in my training career). I don't want to mess it up.
"I was confident when I saw James Garfield in the pre-parade ring, while Frankie just exudes confidence. It worked out well.
"All my horses run in a black noseband - I just like it - when I turn on the television I can see one of ours!"
Part-owner Tim Gredley commented: "It's like déjà vu with the Mill Reef Stakes (G2, 6f, September, which James Garfield won at Newbury last year). He has put up a great performance and beat some lovely horses.
"We were hopeful beforehand and I think he is a very exciting colt. He never got much of a run in the Breeders' Cup, but has had a great winter. He has produced the goods today and we are very happy.
"We will have a chat with George Scott, who has done a great job in getting him here, and I suppose we will go to Royal Ascot and maybe drop him back to six, or maybe go for the Guineas. Knowing dad, it will probably be the Guineas, but let's see how he comes out of the race."
Frankie Dettori, who performed a flying dismount, remarked: "I was a neighbour of Bill (Gredley) for 18 years and he had to put up with me. I am a good friend with Tim and George
"James Garfield is a lovely little horse with a massive heart, who tries really hard. When he gallops, he gets his head down like a Jack Russell and he has got a lot of courage, handles any ground and also any sort of undulations.
"Because of the way he won, he is entitled to take his chance in the Guineas - I am not saying he is going to win but he deserves to be in the race. I am available and will ride him.
"I had James (Doyle on front-running Hey Gaman) within range but I was a bit worried when Ryan (Moore - Expert Eye) came on the bridle.
"He likes a straight course - he hasn't grown a lot, but God he has got a heart."
"Expert Eye has come a long way because we have had difficulty in the stalls during the spring and Gary (Wideford) and his son have done a really good job with him.
"The horse was pretty calm today - he just needed a little shove in. He wants better ground than this - quicker ground.
"We will see how he comes through this race - we are in no hurry to make a decision about which Guineas to go to - we are going to take our time.
"He is smart, but we have had trouble with the stalls - he is improving all the time - this is a lot better than when we schooled him last time at Newmarket on the racecourse side. Today was pretty good."
Expert Eye was beaten three quarters of a length in second, finishing a short-head in front of the third Hey Gaman (James Tate/James Doyle, 3/1). The winner's time was 1m 26.98s.
Greenham Stakes
£60,000 added, 3yo only, 7f, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (4) | James Garfield (IRE) 3/1 | L Dettori 9-0 |
George Scott | 3 | |
| 2nd | (8) | ¾ | Expert Eye 7/4F | R L Moore 9-0 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 3 |
| 3rd | (3) | s.h | Hey Gaman 3/1 | James Doyle 9-0 |
J Tate | 3 |
| 4th | (5) | ¾ | Raid (IRE) 12/1 | Oisin Murphy 9-0 |
D M Simcock | 3 |
| 5th | (2) | 1½ | Fighting Irish (IRE) 16/1 | C Demuro 9-0 |
H J L Dunlop | 3 |
| 6th | (7) | ¾ | Cold Stare (IRE) 33/1 | M Harley 9-0 |
D O'Meara | 3 |
| 7th | (1) | nse | Connect 10/1 | A Kirby 9-0 |
C G Cox | 3 |
| NR | (6) | Arrogant (IRE) | Non Runner 9-0 |
J Santos | 3 |
