Bet365 Classic Trial |
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| Group 3, Sandown Park 15:00 £62,500 added, 3yo only, 1m 2f 7y, Class 1  |
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| Friday 24th April 2015 | |
1 Master Apprentice 12/1
2 Cape Clear Island 3/1
3 Snoano 6/1
NR: Grey Lion (IRE)
4 ran Distances: ½l, 3l, 28l
TIME 2m 12.91s (slow by 7.41s)
Outsider-of-four Master Apprentice makes every post a winning one
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With the big guns seemingly keen to play their cards late, Andrew Balding's colt (12-1) got something of an uncontested lead in the hands of David Probert.
Snoano loomed up as a danger before weakening in the straight, while the Charlie Hills-trained Autumn Stakes winner Commemorative, the 4-6 favourite on his first start since running at the Breeders' Cup meeting, was bitterly disappointing on his return.
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Probert said: "It was quite a smart performance.
"It was quite a tactical race and he managed to get his own way out in front, but when I really asked him to lengthen and quicken away he answered and put it to bed fairly sharply.
"Last year it was a big stretch going for a Group One, but he was second in a maiden here behind Christophermarlowe, who put in a smart performance in the Epsom Derby Trial.
"The way he's won I'd say he's going to progress."
Balding said: "We ran him in a Group One last year, so we thought plenty of him and he's been working nicely.
"We thought the track would suit him - he ran well here as a two-year-old - so we thought we'd give it a go and David's given him a lovely ride.
"He got the run of the race, but he's a solid horse.
"We'll probably look at (Royal) Ascot for him now. We always felt he was more an Ascot horse than an Epsom (Derby) horse, that's for sure.
"We thought he'd be comfortable at a mile and a quarter. I'm not sure he'd be crying out for a mile and a half, but we might give it a go."
Trainer Charlie Hills felt underfoot conditions were against the vanquished favourite. He said: "I don't think he handled the ground at all and he never looked comfortable from the word go.
"He's had a race now and we'll speak to Teddy (Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah) about where to go next.
"I think the trip is fine and one thing we do know is that he wants quick racing ground."
Bet365 Classic Trial
£65,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 2f 7y, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
| Pos | Draw | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (1) | Master Apprentice (IRE) 12/1 | David Probert 9-1 |
A M Balding | 3 | |
| 2nd | (3) | ½ | Cape Clear Island (IRE) 3/1 | R L Moore 9-1 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 3rd | (5) | 3 | Snoano 6/1 | Dane O'Neill 9-1 |
J H M Gosden | 3 |
| 4th | (4) | 28 | Commemorative 4/6f | L Dettori 9-3 |
C Hills | 3 |
| NR | (2) | Grey Lion (IRE) 7/4 | Non Runner 9-1 |
A Fabre | 3 |
