Brave win for Kalanisi

Last updated: 27th November 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Act Of Kalanisi: Newbury success

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Richard Newland star battles hard for debut win

Act Of Kalanisi (9-1) got the better of the well-fancied Secret World up the long Newbury straight in the sportingbet.com Novices' Hurdle on Saturday.

Secret World was a smart performer on the Flat and finished just over three lengths off Red Evie here in the 2007 Lockinge Stakes.

Backed into 5-2 second-favourite before the off, the Nicky Henderson trained seven-year-old looked sure to defy a long absence from the track when looming up ominously behind Act Of Kalanisi two out.

However, despite taking the lead after the last, Secrt World could not finish his race as well as long-time leader Act Of Kalanisi who battled back bravely to score by three quarters of a length under substitute jockey Richard Johnson.

A 77 rated flat horse himself, the winner provided an immediate return on the 32,000 guineas that his new connections paid for him last month.

2-1 favourite Dona was nine lengths adrift of the front two in third.

William Hill and Blue Square quote odds of 33-1 for the winner in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Richard Johnson was a late replacement for Brian Hughes in the saddle and Doctor Richard Newland, trainer of the winner, said: "Brian was stuck in traffic but it was great to get Richard and he's very good at that sort of ride.

"I thought he might stay better than the other horse and he won over two and a quarter on the Flat, so I'll probably step him up in trip for another novice."

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