Bahrain Trophy |
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| Group 3, Newmarket 13:50 £100,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 5f, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 13th July 2017 | |
1 Raheen House 7/2
2 Desert Skyline 11/1
3 Sofia's Rock 20/1
9 ran Distances: 1l, ½l, 6l
Time: 2m 44.74s (slow by 4.74s)
Raheen House beats Desert Skyline under Jamie Spencer
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The Group Three Bahrain Trophy was won by subsequent St Leger winner Masked Marvel in 2012 while last season's Classic hero, Harbour Law, finished fourth in this race over a mile and five furlongs.
The Brian Meehan-trained Raheen House was sent off at 7/2 on the back of an encouraging run at Royal Ascot in the King Edward VII Stakes and came home strongly under Jamie Spencer.
Meehan said: "He wanted that extra furlong. He has always been progressive and really deserved this especially after his last run at Ascot. I was really pleased with that, it was top drawer.
"He looked around him a little bit and Jamie said when he hit the front he was just pricking his ears. He possibly hit the front a bit soon and could have won it a little bit easier. I think he's a proper horse.
"All the horses were wrong when he won at Goodwood. We thought we would give him a break after Ascot and come back for this. I am pleased for the boys back home as it is a big week with a lot of racing.
"I would be quite happy to leave him for the St Leger. I imagine we will go straight there as that will suit the horse. That's the sensible place to go."
Spencer said: "We went a good even gallop and we got racing quite a bit out. I was concerned four down, but I was hoping his stamina would kick in, which it did.
"Physically he's a horse who is going to improve as the year goes on. He was a bit unlucky at Ascot. I thought he should have been second. He was entitled to win today.
"He's a son of Sea The Stars out of a German family so he's going to improve and be an even better horse next year."
Sofia's Rock, one of the outsiders in the field, was quick to move to the head of affairs and stayed against the stands' side rail despite four runners moving towards the centre of the track at the top of the long straight.
Jockey Silvestre de Sousa appeared to be in the right place as the action unfolded against the stands' rail with Sofia's Rock proving hard to pass.
Desert Skyline attempted to throw down a challenge but never quite got there but he ran on well enough to follow Raheen House through to grab second once passed by the eventual winner on the rising ground with Sofia's Rock holding on for third.
Atty Persse, the 11-4 favourite after winning the King George V Stakes at the Royal meeting, was bitterly disappointing.
Bahrain Trophy (Group 3)
£100,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 5f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (1) | Raheen House (IRE) 7/2 | J P Spencer 9-1 |
B J Meehan | 3 | |
| 2nd | (2) | 1 | Desert Skyline (IRE) 11/1 | F M Berry 9-1 |
D R C Elsworth | 3 |
| 3rd | (6) | ½ | Sofia's Rock (FR) 20/1 | S De Sousa 9-1 |
M Johnston | 3 |
| 4th | (4) | 6 | Tamleek (USA) 14/1 | Jim Crowley 9-1 |
S bin Suroor | 3 |
| 5th | (8) | 1 | Wolf Country 9/2 | W Buick 9-1 |
C Appleby | 3 |
| 6th | (9) | 1¼ | Face The Facts (IRE) 22/1 | A Kirby 9-1 |
J H M Gosden | 3 |
| 7th | (7) | 3¼ | Crowned Eagle 13/2 | Andrea Atzeni 9-1 |
J H M Gosden | 3 |
| 8th | (3) | 3½ | Wisconsin (JPN) 12/1 | R L Moore 9-1 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 9th | (5) | 26 | Atty Persse (IRE) 11/4f | James Doyle 9-1 |
R Charlton | 3 |
