Betfred Middleton Stakes |
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| Group 2, York 14:40 £110,000 added, Fillies, 4yo plus, 1m 2f 88y, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 14th May 2015 | |
1 Secret Gesture 7/2
2
Talmada 12/1
3 Ribbons 6/1
NR: Lady Tiana
8 ran Distances: 1½l, nk, ¾l
TIME 2m 10.48s (slow by 3.48s)
Secret Gesture makes all and wins the Middleton Stakes from Talmada and Ribbons
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Qatar Racing's Fahad Al-Thani: "Andrea went out there with a plan and he executed it perfectly. He's a genius. A great team player."
The Ralph Beckett-trained five-year-old finished second in the race in 2014 but went one place better in some style as she held off Talmada by a length and half.
Secret Gesture appeared very keen in the hands of Andrea Atzeni and there was clear daylight between her and the field turning for home, with Talmada setting out in pursuit.
While Atzeni had to get to work in the final couple of furlongs, Secret Gesture found plenty for pressure and fended off all challengers, with Ribbons staying on late for third.
Atzeni said: "She's very straightforward. She was a bit fresh early on but I managed to get a breather into her on the bend and she quickened again. She loves the ground, she's very honest and the tailwind was a help in the straight.
"Ralph left it to me as she's run well from the front and from behind, but there didn't appear to be much pace in the race so the plan was to go forward anyway.
"She won well there and she's definitely going the right way. She's obviously improving with age."
Betfred Middleton Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)
£110,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 2f 88y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | Draw | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (8) | Secret Gesture 7/2 | Andrea Atzeni 9-0 |
R M Beckett | 5 | |
| 2nd | (4) | 1½ | Talmada (USA) 12/1 | W Buick 9-0 |
R Varian | 4 |
| 3rd | (2) | nk | Ribbons 6/1 | T P Queally 9-3 |
J R Fanshawe | 5 |
| 4th | (7) | ¾ | Odeliz (IRE) 16/1 | D Tudhope 9-0 |
K R Burke | 5 |
| 5th | (5) | 1 | Madame Chiang 8/1 | Jim Crowley 9-3 |
D M Simcock | 4 |
| 6th | (1) | 3¼ | Bragging (USA) 15/8f | R L Moore 9-0 |
Sir Michael Stoute | 4 |
| 7th | (9) | 2¼ | Belle D'or (USA) 6/1 | L Dettori 9-0 |
J H M Gosden | 4 |
| 8th | (3) | 7 | Lily Rules (IRE) 40/1 | Barry McHugh 9-0 |
T Coyle | 4 |
| NR | (6) | Lady Tiana 25/1 | G Lee 9-0 |
Mrs L Wadham | 4 |
