Tweet

racing news /

Tominator Cracks Second Northumberland Plate
29/06/13

1 Tominator 8/1
2 Oriental Fox 20/1
3 Brockwell 20/1
3 Mubaraza 15/2J
NR: Montaser (IRE), Sun Central (IRE)
18 ran Distances: shd, dht, 1¼l
TIME 3m 34.11s (slow by 7.11s)

Tominator came with a storming late run under Graham Lee to land the John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle for the second time.

Tominator
© Grossick Racing Photography

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained grey, who won the prestigious prize in 2011 when with Reg Hollinshead, had plenty to do in the closing stages as Oriental Fox burst clear and made the best of his way home.

But Tominator, (8/1) despite carrying the burden of top weight, made remorseless progress and nailed his rival close home to snatch the race by a short head in a pulsating finish, with a further length and a quarter to Brockwell in third. Mubaraza finished fourth.

Lee, completing a big-race double after his Chipchase Stakes success on Jack Dexter, said: "Happy days are here again! Massive credit to the horse and massive credit to Jonjo. He told me to be brave on him. The horse gave me a great ride."

The Grand National-winning jockey spent many a winter riding around the Gosforth Park circuit before turning his attentions to the Flat early last year.

He added: "I always wanted to win an Eider Chase here and I managed that on Philson Run, and I desperately wanted to win a Fighting Fifth, but Harchibald beat me when I was on Inglis Drever. This is a very nice substitute."

O'Neill is another man better known for his National Hunt exploits, but this was his second major Flat winner winner in little over a week after Well Sharp claimed the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting.

The handler said: "I couldn't be happier. Reg and Andrew (Hollinshead) did a great job with him. Reg left a bit in the tank for me, but Andrew deserves a lot of credit. The horse ran a nice race at Chester (third in the Chester Cup), but I was worried about the weight today. Graham didn't panic when he was at the back and he rode him spot-on.

"We'll see if he's going to go back hurdling in the winter. He'll have a few options. This was the plan. Dubai might be quite nice. It's warm out there!"

On becoming the first dual Northumberland Plate winner since Tug Of War secured back-to-back successes in 1977 and 1978, O'Neill added: "It's fantastic. It's great to be part of it all. I'd love to have more Flat horses. We'll get a few more now, hopefully."

John Smith's Northumberland Plate (Heritage Handicap)
£150,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 19y, Class 2
18 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places