Winston set for enforced holiday
Winston was unplaced aboard Minwir in division two of the Bet Multiples - Betdaq Handicap at Kempton yesterday but the stewards felt he had used his whip without giving his mount enough time to respond, triggering his referral under the ’totting-up’ procedure.
“He was on 24 days before today, so we had to refer it on,” said Chris Rutter, the stipendiary steward.
A panel at British Horseracing Authority headquarters will decide the precise length of his enforced holiday.
The race itself will be remembered more fondly by Teresa Spearing, daughter of her fellow Worcestershire trainer John, whose Namu (12-1) got first run on her rivals under Dane O’Neill.
“That’s only my second winner but I’ve had about 12 thirds, so I’ve doubled my score,” said Spearing.
“We tried cheekpieces on her at home, and they’ve made the difference today.”
With the turf season wrapped up on Saturday, the grey and eventually rainy afternoon in Sunbury was for the die-hards only and Kevin Ghunowa will be pleased to get away despite drawing closer to losing his 3lb claim in division one of the handicap on Ron Harris’ 7-2 favourite Hart Of Gold.
“I’ve got seven or eight to go before I lose the claim, but I’m off home to Mauritius to ride in a couple of the big meetings,” said Ghunowa. “I’ll be back in mid-December though.”
Wellington Square was the most impressive winner of the card, punched home five lengths clear in the Register Now @ betdaqpoker.co.uk Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
Hughie Morrison’s gelding went into many notebooks after flashing home on his debut at Windsor but his form spiralled dramatically downwards in subsequent outings.
But it was smooth sailing on his first try dropped down to a mile as the handsome 3-1 joint-favourite marched away at the distance. Timothy Cassel, Wellington Square’s co-owner, said: “It seems we have two horses – the very good one we saw today and the one who was so disappointing in his last two runs.
