Doubles landed for the Richard Rees & Nathan Hunt kennels at Hove on Thursday evening
Doubles landed for the Richard Rees & Nathan Hunt kennels at Hove on Thursday evening
Doubles landed for the Richard Rees & Nathan Hunt kennels at Hove on Thursday evening
Nine open races featured on an ultra-competitive 12-race card from the south coast venue.
The Richard Rees kennel took the Coral 500 Maiden Trophy final with Texas Jack (T6) who made it two from two since moving over from Ireland. Unthinkable (T2) from the Seamus Cahill kennel showed nice back straight pace and stayed on in taking fashion. He looks like a nice six-bend prospect for the coming months. Texas Jack was available at 4/6 throughout the day and went off the well-supported 3/10 favourite. The lightly raced May 23 son of Coolavanny Hoffa made all and recorded a 29.21 clock over the four-bend 500-metre distance.
At 6.59 in the first heat of the Coral Dual Distance Trophy the Matt Dartnell-trained railer Long Fellow (T1) paced up nicely into the corner and hit the back straight a couple clear. Huge middle gears saw the January 22 son of Droopys Sydney skip four or five lengths ahead with Burrow Eclipse (T6) chasing him down. Off the final bend Burrow Eclipse attempted to close down Long Fellow and was beaten just under two lengths at the line with the winner recording 29.28.
Heat two of the Coral Dual Distance Trophy went to the Nathan Hunt-trained Newinn Oscar, who ran from T2 with Nine Percent finishing second from T4. Following a moderate break, Newinn Oscar paced up well into the corner, grabbed the rails and led round. Droopys Dialogue (T3) challenged at the third bend but met trouble. Nine Perfect flew home and was beaten a neck. He’s one to consider in next week’s final.
The third heat of the Coral Dual Distance Trophy was a closely contested affair with half a length covering the front three. Scooby Pacemaker (T1) took the race with a head back to Avarua Flight (T4) and half a length to the third, Antigua Forky who ran from T6.
Two heats of the Coral 695 Stayers Trophy took place at 8.24 and 8.41. Minstrels Six (T1) took the first of those heats in 41.90, beating odds-on favourite Intriguing Iris who finished second from T2. At 8.41 Art Riddler (T2) flew home to catch kennelmate Harlequin Beauty (T1) in 41.73.
It was all over bar the shouting at lid rise in the Coral Summertime Winner Of One 500 when Swords Hero pinged out from T4. He went onto make all in 29.24. Front Polo chased Swords Hero home but could never land a blow on the impressive winner.
The card finished with a four-runner event over the 285-metre sprint trip, and we saw a shock with 1/2 favourite Curtin Raiser (T1) finishing third. Droopys Highfive (T2) defied odds of 6/1 to land a double on the night for the Nathan Hunt kennel.
A little earlier on in the Coral Summertime Maiden Stayers race at 7.49 local runner Bluestar Boss (T1) from the Tony Taylor kennel set the fractions and found himself a couple clear at the third bend with Yougo Jazz (T2) challenging in second. It was at this point that Lets Go Harry (T3) caught the eye. He was cutting through the pack and looked the likely winner at the fifth bend. Off the final bend Harry hit the front, waited and then turned his head, leading to his disqualification. Bluestar Boss won the race in 42.67 rewarding those that grabbed the 9/2 on offer from the bookmakers.
