2010 race

racing_news/

Prince Of Johanne Rules in Betfred Cambridgeshire
24/09/11

1 Prince Of Johanne 40/1
2 Stevie Thunder 25/1
3 Proponent 14/1
4 Nanton 33/1
NR: Dare To Dance (IRE), Maraheb, Tinkertown (IRE)
32 ran Distances: 1¾l, nse, nse
TIME 1m 49.14s (slow by 1.04s)

Tom Tate ended a losing run of 71 days and 34 runners as Prince Of Johanne powered clear of the field in the £160,000 Betfred Cambridgeshire.

Prince Of Johanne
© Racehorse Photos

The unconsidered 40/1 chance struck for home leaving The Dip and never looked like being reeled in under John Fahy.

The five-year-old stayed on strongly to the line to win with a length and a quarter in hand over Stevie Thunder, with a nose and the same separating Proponent and Nanton.

Tate said: “What a way to get off the cold list! It has been a great day.

“I could say I have laid him out for this all year, but I haven’t and this was a surprise.

“Both the race and the fast ground suited him. He has been running well all season so the form was there but I thought the handicapper had him.

“The two guys who own him are professional punters but they didn’t have a penny on!”

Fahy added: “I was second in this race last year on Steele Tango so to go one place better is happy days.

“All credit has to go to Mr Tate for getting him spot-on on the day.

“He is real tough - I won on him at Windsor last year and the ground is really key to him.

“He jumped, travelled great and when I kicked out of The Dip I knew he would not be caught.

“He is tough and has stayed further in the past and you do need to stay in these races.”

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Prince Of Johanne T P Tate	J P Fahy 8st 12lbs	40 - 1 Winner
2	Stevie Thunder Ian Williams	Ryan Clark 8st 13lbs	25 - 1 1 3/4 length
3	Proponent R Charlton	T E Durcan 9st 7lbs	14 - 1 Nose
4	Nanton J S Goldie	D Tudhope 9st 9lbs	33 - 1 Nose
5	Markazzi Sir Michael Stoute	R Hills 8st 13lbs	16 - 1 1 length
6	Circumvent P F I Cole	C P Lemaire 9st 6lbs	16 - 1 Short Head
7	Shavansky B R Millman	J Millman 9st 1lbs	33 - 1 1/2 length
8	Maali C E Brittain	Kirsty Milczarek 8st 8lbs	40 - 1 Short Head
9	Ideology Mario Hofer	T P Queally 9st 3lbs	28 - 1 1/2 length
10	Nice Style J Gask	Raul Da Silva 8st 9lbs	33 - 1 1 length
11	Pintura D M Simcock	A Kirby 9st 6lbs	25 - 1 1 1/4 length
12	Harrison George R A Fahey	P Hanagan 9st 4lbs	33 - 1 1/2 length
13	Brick Red A M Balding	David Probert 8st 11lbs	33 - 1 Nose
14	Questioning J H M Gosden	William Buick 9st 1lbs	9 - 1 3/4 length
15	Crown Counsel M Johnston	C O'Donoghue 8st 10lbs	50 - 1 1/2 length
16	Pires A J Martin	J F Egan 8st 10lbs	40 - 1 Neck
17	Albaqaa P J O'Gorman	K T O'Neill 9st 0lbs	14 - 1 Neck
18	Combat Zone Mario Hofer	Terence Hellier 9st 6lbs	50 - 1 Short Head
19	Man Of Action S bin Suroor	L Dettori 9st 6lbs	8 - 1 Head
20	Arlequin J D Bethell	P Robinson 9st 10lbs	33 - 1 1 3/4 length
21	Red Gulch Ed Walker	J-P Guillambert 9st 7lbs	16 - 1 1 length
22	Jutland M Johnston	Daryl Byrne 9st 5lbs	66 - 1 Nose
23	Roayh S bin Suroor	Martin Dwyer 8st 12lbs	40 - 1 3/4 length
24	Cry Fury R Charlton	R Hughes 8st 13lbs	10 - 1 1/2 length
25	First Post D Haydn Jones	W A Carson 8st 8lbs	40 - 1 Head
26	Credit Swap Miss V Williams	I Mongan 9st 1lbs	33 - 1 Head
27	Desert Romance D O'Meara	Dane O'Neill 8st 10lbs	33 - 1 1/2 length
28	Riggins Ed Walker	G Baker 9st 5lbs	25 - 1 1/2 length
29	Constant Contact A M Balding	Adam Beschizza 9st 1lbs	40 - 1 1 1/2 length
30	Maqaraat C Hills	R Winston 9st 1lbs	25 - 1 1/2 length
31	Pendragon B Ellison	J Quinn 8st 11lbs	33 - 1 Short Head
32	Sagramor H Morrison	N Mackay 9st 1lbs	14 - 1 5 lengths
NonRunner	Maraheb J Dunlop	Non Runner 9st 4lbs	-
NonRunner	Tinkertown R Varian	Harry Bentley 8st 12lbs	-
NonRunner	Dare To Dance J Noseda	J P Spencer 8st 9lbs	-

DRAW COSTS STEVIE THUNDER

The Ian Williams-trained Stevie Thunder came out best in a photo for second in the Betfred Cambridgeshire, a length and three-quarters behind the winner Prince Of Johanne.

“He ran his heart out,” said Williams’ assistant Kevin Frost. “Ryan (Clark) planned to go over to the other side but nobody went with him so he had to go back and join the others and the draw has ended up costing him a few lengths.

“This had been the plan for a while and he put in a career-best performance and he’s improving. He’s been a difficult boy in the stalls in the past and we even sent him hurdling, which he hated, and the Flat doesn’t seem so bad to him now! We’ll have to talk over whether he has another trip to Dubai.”

The ultra-consistent seven-year-old Proponent flew at the finish to come third, a nose behind Stevie Thunder.
“He is so consistent and a wonderful horse,” said trainer Roger Charlton. “He hit a flat spot in the race and ran on but it’s just hard to land one of these races.

“He tried to give 7lb to Green Destiny, who has subsequently gone up 30lb, in the spring and he was just beaten on the line at Goodwood last time so he is a model of consistency. I’m afraid the handicapper is not going to drop him and we’ll see where we go.

“There is more money in these handicaps than in Listed or Group 3 races and if he had been a nose closer he would have picked up over £25,000 for coming second today.”



NANTON CLEAN SWEEPS THE PLACES

If everyone loves a gallant loser then the veteran grey Nanton must be awash with affection after finishing late to clinch a place for the third time in the Betfred Cambridgeshire at odds of 16/1.

Jim Goldie’s charge actually had his head in front on his first attempt at the race in 2008, only to be headed as Tazeez relegated him to finish a length runner-up. His next effort in the nine-furlong cavalry charge a year later saw him come with what is now a trademark late run, only to cross the line in third, a length and three quarters behind the victorious Supaseus.

After missing the race last year, Nanton returned to tackle the 2011 Betfred Cambridgeshire under the burden of 9st 9lb.

Settled at the rear of the field under regular pilot Danny Tudhope, the Stuart Morrison-owned gelding began to make eye-catching progress down the stands’ side rail with two furlongs to race and, granted a clear run, flashed past the post in a three-way photo for the minor places, a little over a length and three-quarters behind the triumphant 40/1 shot Prince Of Johannes.

After forensic examination by the judge, Nanton was placed fourth, missing out on the runner-up berth by two noses as Stevie Thunder and Proponent were adjudged to be second and third respectively.

A philosophical George Goldie, representing his father, said: “He has run a great race and I think if the Cambridgeshire was an extra furlong he might have won the race. He has won over a mile and six so he stays further.

“There isn’t a whole lot left for him now this season. The owner is keen to go to Dubai with him. We have always been a bit worried about the effects of going out there but now he’s nine it might be a gamble worth taking.”

Tudhope was thrilled with his mount, whom he has partnered 22 times for three wins.

The jockey commented: “He ran well again and it was probably a career best. He travelled well and came home really strong, there are no excuses.

“He has been a great horse to ride and he has been all my career. He’s certainly no worse for being the age he is.”