Three and easy for Hughes
Fresh from his incredible seven-timer at Windsor on Monday, Hughes began where he left off in the Midlands.
Riding Van Der Neer (2-1) for his boss and father-in-law Richard Hannon, the juvenile looked a cut above his rivals in the opening Wymeswold Conditions Stakes.
He quickened up smartly to put the odds-on favourite Seek Again in his place by a length and three-quarters.
The winner was introduced into the 2000 Guineas betting at 33-1 and could now be supplemented for the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on October 27.
“It keeps getting better,” said Hughes. “I love this colt. I think that was a serious performance – he was always travelling well and, my God, did he quicken.
“I know the tailwind is behind us, but he put three lengths between them in five strides. It’s good to see he goes on that ground, but he’ll get a mile.
“We might have a think about supplementing him in the Racing Post Trophy, it was that good a performance.”
Hughes then took his tally to nine wins from 10 rides on Tunnager Grove in the Whissendine Selling Stakes.
The 10-11 favourite looked like cruising to victory at one stage, but only won by half a length from Barista.
Hughes said: “The bookies are running for cover! He did it well. I think I wanted to win it more than he did, though, that was the only problem.
“I deliberately pulled up away from the other horses – Rab Havlin told me to do that after he rode him last time.
“I told Harvey (his son) I’d ride three (winners) today.”
Hughes’ prophecy came true later on the card when he replaced the unwell Chris Catlin to take the Fosse Way Classified Claiming Stakes with Guiletta. The winner is trained by Rae Guest, who supplied Hughes with his only loser at Windsor on Monday.
One of the first under pressure, Guiletta (9-2) hit the front a furlong out and held off 66-1 chance Bold Duke by half a length. “Poor old Chris Catlin is at home and never misses a day usually, but he must be ill if he’s not at the races,” said Hughes.
