Norfolk Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 2, Ascot 14:30
£110,000 guaranteed,
2yo only,
5f, Class 1   
Thursday 16th June 2022

Boylesports

1 The Ridler 50/1
2 Walbank 7/4F
3 Crispy Cat 7/1
10 ran NR: My First Rodeo Distances: 1¾l, nk, 1l
Time: 1m 0.50s (slow by 1.10s)

Richard Fahey landed his second successive Norfolk Stakes as The Ridler caused a 50/1 shock in the opening G2 sprint on day three.
 
Twelve months after Perfect Power landed the five-furlong contest at odds of 14/1, Fahey and rider Paul Hanagan repeated the trick with an even bigger-priced colt. 
 
The Ridler swept to the front in the final furlong having been drawn on the wing but caused significant interference as he veered left across rivals. His supporters needed to survive a stewards’ enquiry before the result was confirmed.
 
The speedy Brazen Beau colt came home a length-and-three-quarters clear of 7/4 favourite Walbank, who had every chance in second, with Crispy Cat a neck further back in third.
 
Hanagan said immediately after the race: “The Ridler pricked his ears in front and I always felt he was clear. I don't think they had to stop riding, so I think it will be fine.
 
“He is still very green and a baby. I put my stick down to get him straight, so I could not have done much more.
 
“There's a lot of emotions going through me at the minute. I'm delighted to ride this winner for Richard Fahey and the owners – I'm going to enjoy the moment."

Trainers Quotes

Fahey said: “That was a bit of a surprise – I know we were mad about the second horse in the breeze-up, but he made a little bit too much than we wanted [to pay]. 
 
“I didn’t think The Ridler was a 40/1 shot. He’s a good hardy horse. We had him in the Coventry, and had a long chat about it all, then decided to go here. You need a good six-furlong horse to win, especially the pace they went, so we’re delighted. It was a good performance.
 
“Paul is happy, I’m happy. We haven’t really had a change around of jockeys, it was just bringing a young guy [Oisin Orr] in, and Paul would still ride for us, and has ridden for us today. You’ve got to look to the future, though.
 
“We will get Ascot out of the way before we think about the future, but we’d think about a flat six furlongs. He’s quite a quick horse; you’d like to think of something like the Prix Morny, because if you’ve got a Group 2, you’ve got to think of a Group 1.
 
“Coming here today, I thought if we were placed, I’d be delighted – I was very worried about the second horse. It’s a tough race to win and it’s nice to win it two years in a row.”
 
Winning owner Steve Bradley said: “It's two [Norfolk Stakes] on the trot for Richard. 50/1 and we bred him. We use the National Stud to breed most of our horses, along with Deauville and in Ireland. It is fantastic.
 
“I have been involved heavily in the last 10 years in racing. It's amazing. This is the best day of my life along with getting married and having children."
 
Of the horse’s name, he explained: “The Ridler has got a reverse question mark on his face, and The Riddler on every outfit has loads of question marks, including in reverse. As soon as he was born, it was a no-brainer. Weatherbys didn’t like it with two ‘d’s so we settled for one, and the rest is history. My son Leigh is a Batman fan more than me, but it’s been around for a long time, more than 60 years.
 
“Weatherbys were worried about the copyright – they didn’t want to take on whoever owns Marvel Comics these days and they got a sweat on about that. I think Marvel Comics have got more money than I have!”

Trainers Quotes

David Loughnane, who also trained the runner-up in last year’s race, said of Walbank: “Deja vu! The horse has done very well. He has run his race and I don't think he could have done anything different. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't heartbroken, but that's racing. We were out in front and he has probably got a little bit lonely. The winner has come down the outside and a long way across the track.”
 
Crispy Cat’s trainer Michael O’Callaghan said: “He should have won. It is plain and simple. Silvestre [de Sousa] said he would have won. He never had a clear run through the race, even from the middle way through the race, and then he got wiped out by the winner when he was coming through. It wasn't the first time he had to check, and he has run on again, so he should have won, unfortunately."
 
Silvestre de Sousa added: “We got a wipe out from the winner. It made the difference. We would have won."

Brave Nation's rider James Doyle said: “He ran with a lot of credit – he would have been third without the interference.”

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Norfolk Stakes
£110,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 5f, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY
1 (2)     The Ridler 2 9-3 Richard Fahey Paul Hanagan 50/1
2 (6) 1¾ Walbank 2 9-3 David Loughnane Rossa Ryan 7/4F
3 (4) nk Crispy Cat 2 9-3 M D O'Callaghan Silvestre De Sousa 7/1
4 (9) 1 Brave Nation 2 9-3 Michael Bell James Doyle 6/1
5 (3) ¾ Bakeel 2 9-3 Andrew Balding Jack Mitchell 9/1
6 (8) hd Pillow Talk 2 9-0 K R Burke Kieran Shoemark 7/1
7 (10) ¾ The Antarctic 2 9-3 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 4/1
8 (11) nk Thunder Moor 2 9-3 Kevin Ryan Daniel Tudhope 28/1
9 (1) nk Redemption Time 2 9-3 Clive Cox Adam Kirby 25/1
10 (5) 8½ Jungle Fever 2 9-3 Charlie & Mark Johnston Joe Fanning 125/1
NR 5 (7) My First Rodeo 2 9-3 John Ryan NON RUNNER

SureWIn

NORFOLK STAKES WINNERS

YEAR GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2021 2 PERFECT POWER Richard Fahey Paul Hanagan Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum 2-9-01 14/1
2020 2 THE LIR JET Michael Bell Oisin Murphy Qatar Racing Ltd 2-9-01 9/2
2019 2 A'ALI Simon Crisford Frankie Dettori Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa 2-9-01 5/1
2018 2 SHANG SHANG SHANG Wesley Ward USA Joel Rosario Breeze Easy LLC 2-8-12 5/1
2017 2 SIOUX NATION Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier 2-9-01 14/1
2016 2 PRINCE OF LIR Robert Cowell Luke Morris Cool Silk Racing Partnership 2-9-01 8/1
2015 2 WATERLOO BRIDGE Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 2-9-01 12/1
2014 2 BAITHA ALGA Richard Hannon Frankie Dettori Al Shaqab Racing 2-9-01 8/1
2013 2 NO NAY NEVER Wesley Ward USA Joel Rosari Linda Shanahan & Ice Wine Stable 2-9-01 4/1
2012 2 RECKLESS ABANDON Clive Cox Adam Kirby Miss J Deadman & S Barrow 2-9-01 4/1
2011 2 BAPAK CHINTA Kevin Ryan Phillip Makin T A Rahman 2-9-01 6/1
2010 2 APPROVE William Haggas Eddie Ahern Highclere Thoroughbred Racing 2-9-01 16/1
2009 2 RADIOHEAD Brian Meehan Jamie Spencer Carmen Burrell & Jonathan Harvey 2-9-01 10/1
2008 2 SOUTH CENTRAL Howard Johnson Robert Winston Transcend Bloodstock LLP 2-9-01 11/4F
2007 2 WINKER WATSON Peter Chapple-Hyam Jimmy Fortune Comic Strip Heroes/Joy Trotter 2-9-01 2/1F
2006 2 DUTCH ART Peter Chapple-Hyam Alan Munro Susan Roy 2-9-01 11/4
*2005 3 MASTA PLASTA Howard Johnson Robert Winston Transcend Bloodstock Llp 2-8-12 7/2
2004 3 BLUE DAKOTA Jeremy Noseda Eddie Ahern Adrian Nolan, Geraldine Ryan 2-8-12 5/4F
2003 3 RUSSIAN VALOUR Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Tony Latter & Partners 2-8-12 4/1
2002 3 BARON’S PIT Richard Hannon snr Richard Hughes Jeff & Kath Thomas 2-8-12 12/1
2001 3 JOHANNESBURG Aidan O’Brien IRE Michael Kinane Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier 2-8-12 11/8F
2000 3 SUPERSTAR LEO William Haggas Richard Quinn Superstar Leo Partnership 2-8-07 5/1
99/17/06 3 WARM HEART John Gosden Frankie Dettori Sheikh Mohammed 2-8-12 7/2
98/18/06 3 ROSSELLI Jack Berry John Carroll Terry Holdcroft 2-8-12 10/1
97/19/06 3 TIPPITT BOY Kevin McAuliffe John Reid Highgrove Developments Ltd 2-8-12 33/1
96/20/06 3 TIPSY CREEK Ben Hanbury Willie Ryan Abdullah Ali 2-8-12 7/2F
95/22/06 2 LUCKY LIONEL Richard Hannon snr Frankie Dettori Antonio Balzarini 2-8-12 11/1
94/16/06 3 MIND GAMES Jack Berry John Carroll Robert Hughes 2-8-13 5/2
93/17/06 3 TURTLE ISLAND Peter Chapple-Hyam John Reid Robert Sangster 2-8-13 3/1
92/18/06 3 NICHE Richard Hannon snr Lester Piggott Lord Carnarvon 2-8-08 9/1
91/20/06 3 MAGIC RING Paul Cole Alan Munro Fahd Salman 2-8-13 7/4F
90/21/06 3 LINE ENGAGED David Elsworth Steve Cauthen I Karageorgis 2-8-13 14/1
89/22/06 3 PETILLANTE Alex Scott Richard Hills Peter Newell 2-8-08 10/1
88/16/06 3 SUPERPOWER Bill O’Gorman Tony Ives Mrs Poh Lian Yong 2-8-13 EvensF
87/18/06 3 COLMORE ROW William Jarvis Bruce Raymond Doris Allen 2-8-13 10/3
86/19/06 3 SIZZLING MELODY Lord John FitzGerald Richard Hills Mary Watt 2-8-11 5/1
85/20/06 3 MAROUBLE Charlie Nelson Joe Mercer Countess of Lonsdale 2-8-11 20/1
84/21/06 3 MAGIC MIRROR Vincent O’Brien IRE Lester Piggott Stavros Niarchos 2-8-11 11/8
83/16/06 3 PRECOCIOUS Henry Cecil Lester Piggott Lord Tavistock 2-8-11 4/11F
82/17/06 3 BRONDESBURY Bill O’Gorman Tony Ives Ahmed Foustok 2-8-11 8/11F
81/18/06 3 DAY IS DONE Dermot Weld IRE Wally Swinburn Bertram Firestone 2-8-11 5/2
80/19/06 3 CHUMMYS SPECIAL Gavin Hunter Greville Starkey Jack Maxwell 2-8-11 11/2
79/21/06 3 ROMEO ROMANI Ryan Price Brian Taylor Harry Demetriou 2-8-11 7/2
78/22/06 3 SCHWEPPESHIRE LAD Michael Stoute Greville Starkey M Madden 2-8-11 9/4
77/16/06 3 EMBOSS Ron Boss Lester Piggott Torki Saud 2-8-11 11/4
76/16/06 3 GODSWALK Christy Grassick IRE Dermot Hogan Patrick Gallagher 2-8-11 8/13F
75/19/06 3 FALIRAKI Mick O’Toole IRE Lester Piggott Mrs M O’Toole 2-8-11 6/1
74/20/06 3 OVERTOWN Doug Smith Eric Eldin Sir H Calley 2-8-11 9/2
73/21/06 3 HABAT Peter Walwyn Pat Eddery Dr Carlo Vittadini 2-8-11 7/4F
*run at York

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