John Smith's Cup |
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| Heritage Handicap, York 16:15 £200,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 88y, Class 2  |
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| Saturday 9th July 2016 | |
1 Educate 18/1
2 Elbereth 16-1
3 Earth Drummer 20-1
4 Gold Trail 12-1
5 Basem 22/1
NR: Spanish Squeeze (IRE)
19 ran Distances: ½l, ½l, nse
TIME 2m 7.34s (slow by 0.34s)
Educate wins his first race since the 2013 Cambridgeshire
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A regular on the Knavesmire, the Ismail Mohammed-trained seven-year-old was always close to the admittedly moderate pace under Thomas Brown.
Belgian Bill held a narrow advantage inside the final two furlongs, but Educate was always on top of that fast-retreating rival.
Elbereth flew at the death, but Brown had expertly worked out his fractions and won this valuable mile-and-a-quarter handicap with a hint of authority.
Earth Drummer and Gold Trail finished third and fourth respectively.
Fifth in the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot, Educate was claiming a first victory since he struck in the 2013 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.
Brown said: "That was great for the horse. For him to win this race at the age of seven off a mark of 108 is fantastic.
"We knew we had him in good form and I had a lovely position throughout. He travelled really well and stuck his next out to the line."
Brown rode over 50 winners in 2013, but has endured a tougher couple of years since.
"If I'm honest, I thought the world owed me a favour, which of course it didn't," said the jockey.
"I've been a lot more determined this year and I've really knuckled down.
"I'm just out of my claim - I lost it a couple of weeks ago at Lingfield - and to ride a big winner like this is great."
Assistant trainer Mike Marshall said: "We've been really happy with this horse this year.
"He ran a great race on his first run of the year at Goodwood and got put up 12lb for that, which was always going to make things tough.
"The key to him has been getting him happy again. We've had to tread carefully, we've sweetened him up and it's a huge relief to see him winning again.
"He had conditions to suit and the bit of rain helped."
Asked about future targets, Marshall added: "With this horse, we always take things one race at a time."
57th John Smith's Cup (Heritage Handicap)
£200,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 88y, Class 2
19 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (14) | Educate 18/1 | Thomas Brown 9-8 |
I Mohammed | 7 | |
| 2nd | (6) | ½ | Elbereth 16/1 | Edward Greatrex (3) 8-12 |
A M Balding | 5 |
| 3rd | (2) | ½ | Earth Drummer (IRE) 20/1 | S W Kelly 8-12 |
David Loughnane | 6 |
| 4th | (22) | nse | Gold Trail (IRE) 12/1 | James McDonald 9-1 |
C Appleby | 5 |
| 5th | (18) | 1½ | Basem 22/1 | Adam J McNamara (5) 9-10 |
S bin Suroor | 5 |
| 6th | (8) | ½ | Fire Fighting (IRE) 20/1 | L Morris 9-4 |
M Johnston | 5 |
| 7th | (20) | ½ | Azraff (IRE) 12/1 | Andrea Atzeni 8-13 |
M Botti | 4 |
| 8th | (17) | ½ | Oasis Fantasy (IRE) 12/1 | K J Manning 8-12 |
E A L Dunlop | 5 |
| 9th | (5) | ¾ | Tawdeea (ex5) 6/1j | D Tudhope 9-0 |
D O'Meara | 4 |
| 10th | (3) | ½ | What About Carlo (FR) 25/1 | J P Fahy 9-0 |
Eve Johnson Houghton | 5 |
| 11th | (16) | ½ | Belgian Bill 25/1 | R Winston 9-2 |
George Baker | 8 |
| 12th | (13) | ¾ | Carry On Deryck 8/1 | P Mulrennan 9-6 |
S bin Suroor | 4 |
| 13th | (21) | ½ | Revolutionist (IRE) 8/1 | P McDonald 9-5 |
M Johnston | 4 |
| 14th | (19) | 1¼ | Top Notch Tonto (IRE) 20/1 | D Swift 9-3 |
B Ellison | 6 |
| 15th | (1) | ¾ | Mijhaar 25/1 | P Makin 9-0 |
D O'Meara | 8 |
| 16th | (10) | ¾ | Arthenus 6/1j | F Tylicki 9-0 |
J R Fanshawe | 4 |
| 17th | (7) | 1¼ | Balty Boys (IRE) 25/1 | B A Curtis 9-5 |
B Ellison | 7 |
| 18th | (9) | 6 | Our Channel (USA) 20/1 | Georgia Cox (7) 9-3 |
W J Haggas | 5 |
| 19th | (15) | 6 | Birdman (IRE) 20/1 | Shelley Birkett (3) 9-4 |
D O'Meara | 6 |
| NR | (4) | Spanish Squeeze (IRE) 10/1 | Jim Crowley 8-12 |
H Palmer | 4 |
