Luke Morris rides Lingfield treble
Thursday 29 October 2015 20:38, UK
A review of the rest of Thursday's action at Lingfield, where Luke Morris started the defence of his AW title with a bang.
Luke Morris started the defence of his All-Weather Jockeys' Championship title in perfect fashion after bagging a treble at Lingfield.
First up the victory of Our Joy in the opening division of the 32Red Casino/British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
Racing prominently throughout, the 9/4 chance, who finished 11th in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June, found plenty from the sharp end to open her account by two and quarter lengths.
Winning trainer Clive Cox said: "She has done nothing wrong really. I thought she was well handicapped in the nursery department, but there were a few more that were better handicapped.
"She has done it really well and put her previous experience to good use. Luke Morris knows his way round here and rode a pretty good race."
Morris chalked up his second winner when producing Crazy Chic (4/1) on the line to land the Ladbrokes Handicap.
The Marco Botti-trained four-year-old finished to good effect in the seven-furlong event to edge out Leicester maiden winner Hold Tight by half a length and register a third win on an artificial surface
Morris said: "He is a lovely, big, strong horse and is improving all the time. He will be a proper horse for the winter. He really handles an artificial surface and seems to save his best for it."
The James Tate-trained Lamar provided Morris with the final leg of his treble when striking in the Listed 32Red/ebfstallions.com Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes.
Although favourite Very Special flew home late on, the daughter of Cape Cross was not for catching having half a length to spare at the line.
Tate said of the 4/1 winner: "I am so pleased for Lamar because she has been the bridesmaid so many times.
"She got beat a short-head here in the Winter Derby Trial, she was beat a neck on Good Friday and has run well in loads of other black type races. It was lovely to see her get her head in front today.
"I think things would have been different on Good Friday if she had had a better draw but you would have to say a Listed win is more important to her economically.
"She is a lovely filly with a decent pedigree and she can go off to stud like she was supposed to last winter.
"She was meant to go to Kingman and continue racing but she kicked the living daylights out of the teaser. As a result, she wasn't allowed anywhere near Kingman!"
Morris added: "Lamar has been real good servant for me and I'm glad she has finally got her head in front in a Listed race.
"She is very versatile and just as good at 10 furlongs or a mile. She has a big heart and tries very hard, which counts for a lot."
Tate had earlier struck in the 32Red.com/EBF Stallions River Eden Fillies' Stakes as the Adam Kirby-ridden Urban Castle (16/1) ensured she will head to stud on a winning note after staying on stoutly to beat California by a length.
Vaunting was on her best behaviour when making a winning introduction in the second division of the 32Red Casino British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
It was a case of 'take two' for the Sir Michael Stoute-trained two-year-old following her withdrawal at the start of her intended debut at Newmarket earlier this month.
Showing plenty of speed the 9/2 chance, a full-sister to Group-race scorer Bragging, collared odds-on favourite Impressive Day in the dying strides to oblige by half a length.
James Horton, assistant trainer, said: "We are really pleased with her. She is a big raw filly and everything went wrong at Newmarket the other day as she got worried at the start.
"She is a big, backward filly and she looks like she did it nicely. She had a good experience today and will come on for that.
"Bragging is a true professional and there no reason to suggest she will not be anything but that."
A visit from a local clergyman looks to have worked the trick for trainer Paddy Butler after Estibdaad provided him with his third winner from his last six runners in the Coral Handicap.
Kept close to the pace throughout the mile-and-a-quarter contest the 33/1 scorer dug deep to get the better of an entertaining duel with Age Of Elegance by a neck.
Butler said: "I didn't think he would have a chance as I thought it was too good a race for him.
"I get the horses blessed every year by Father Hester and he came in two or three weeks ago. Although I am not a great believer it looks to have worked."
Race Day ensured a frustrating day for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor ended on a positive note when opening his account in the 32Red.com/Britsih Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.
Having had three runners finish second earlier on the card, the 4/5 favourite showed enough to hold off the challenge of He's A Dreamer and take the seven furlong prize by a length.
James Ferguson, representing the winning trainer, said: "We've had a fair few finish second today, but it just shows how competitive the racing is.
"This lad is very straightforward and he has probably appreciated the step up to seven furlongs. I wouldn't be surprised if he is kept on the all-weather now."
The Richard Fahey-trained Chiswick Bey (9/2) got the better of a bunch finish in the hands of Natalie Hambling to pocket the concluding Download The Ladbrokes App Apprentice Handicap.
