racing_news/

Masked Marvel Heads for Leger after Bahrain Trophy Win
07/07/11

1 Masked Marvel 2/1J
2 Census 2/1J
3 Zain Al Boldan 11/1
6 ran Distances: hd, 4l, 1¾l
TIME 2m 49.74s (slow by 9.74s)

Masked Marvel staked his claim for the Ladbrokes St Leger with a head success in the Bahrain Trophy.

Masked Marvel
© Racehorse Photos

The Group Three event has proved a fair trial for the final Classic of the season in recent years with 2009 winner Kite Wood taking second at Doncaster while last year's winner Corsica was third on Town Moor.

Masked Marvel, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Jimmy Fortune, committed for home with a mile left to run, and after staying on strongly on meeting the rising ground, the Montjeu colt had a head left over Census passing the judge.

Masked Marvel, who had landed a Listed event at Goodwood prior to taking eighth in the Investec Derby, was given a 16/1 quote by the sponsors, Stan James and Paddy Power for the Ladbrokes St Leger.

Gosden said: "He ran a nice race at Goodwood and Mr Nielsen was keen to run in the Derby but he simply did not handle the track at Epsom, which not many of them do. But he has come here in good order.

"I told Jimmy that if nothing wanted to go on then he should take the lead. It's the great thing about Jimmy and he just decided to go on.

"Jimmy said that in the final furlong that the horse was looking at the stands and the tents and was pulling himself up.

"I like the way he went about it and he was staying on at the end so it will be straight to the St Leger now.

"There is the Voltigeur and Gordon Stakes before then. There is no point carrying a penalty in the Gordon Stakes and you can have a hard race in the Great Voltigeur, which can be quite close sometimes. He has done plenty this season so we will keep him fresh and go straight to Doncaster."

Fortune added: "He is a lovely horse. I didn't want to make it but they were crawling so I ended up having to and he was just getting a bit lonely in the last furlong. He got the trip and he is a lovely big horse.

"The ground is probably just on the slow side."

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Masked Marvel J H M Gosden	J Fortune 9st 0lbs	2 - 1 Winner
2	Census R Hannon	R L Moore 9st 0lbs	2 - 1 Head
3	Zain Al Boldan M R Channon	J H Bowman 8st 11lbs	11 - 1 4 lengths
4	Hurricane Higgins M Johnston	N Callan 9st 0lbs	16 - 1 1 3/4 length
5	Solar Sky H R A Cecil	T P Queally 9st 0lbs	11 - 4 2 3/4 lengths
6	Crimson Knight B J Meehan	Louis-Philippe Beuzelin 9st 0lbs	50 - 1 13 lengths

RUNNER-UP CENSUS HAS “LEGER WRITTEN ALL OVER HIM”

The members of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Beeswing Syndicate were left wondering what might have been when the fast-finishing Census went down by a head in the opening Group Three Bahrain Trophy over a mile and five furlongs.

Partnered by Ryan Moore, the Cacique colt took a while to find his stride and was doing all his best work in the final half-furlong.

Today’s effort from Census, who is trained by Richard Hannon, has now left connections seriously considering a shot at the final Classic of the season, the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on September 10.

Harry Herbert, managing director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: “Census wants a strong even pace and there was no pace today. Ryan (Moore) said he ran a hell of a race when you consider it was a slow, muddly pace which didn’t suit him.

“He is still a bit green and just hung left a furlong and a half from home when he was asked to quicken, which I think may have cost him the race.

“We will now have to seriously consider the St Leger for him. I think he has Leger written all over him. I don’t know if we will look for something beforehand, but the St Leger definitely has to be the plan this season.

“Looking further ahead, he could hopefully make up into a lovely Cup horse next year for the syndicate members.”

Paddy Power go 16/1 (from 20/1) about Census for the St Leger, while Stan James are also now 16/1 (from 33/1).