Osborne looking to Italian job
Trainer Jamie Osborne nominated the Italian 2000 Guineas as a target for Milk It Mick after the youngster gave him his first Newmarket Pattern-race success yesterday.
Under a vintage ride from 11-times champion Pat Eddery, Milk It Mick swooped late to land the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes.
The juvenile was having his 11th race of the season and it is a tribute to Osborne that he has kept the colt in mint condition.
A step up in class again may well be on the cards for him now.
“He is in the Dewhurst Stakes in two weeks’ time and if he is all right we have nothing to lose in running him in that,” Osborne said.
“He has always been different class to others I have had and next season I would like to have a crack at the Italian 2000 Guineas. He will get a mile no problem.”
Still last with a quarter of a mile to run, Eddery conjured up a great burst of speed as Milk It Mick stormed up the hill to catch Bayeux and Bachelor Duke close home to win by a neck and the same.
“Pat was fantastic,” added Osborne, who trains the horse for owner/breeder Paul Dixon.
“It has been difficult knowing how to ride the horse, but we decided to take a chance and drop him in and it worked perfectly.
“If any other jockey rides Milk It Mick in the future I will tell them to watch today’s race. That is the way to ride him.”
Jeremy Gompertz QC, who represented the Dr Kelly family at the recent Hutton inquiry, watched as Willie Ryan brought his Colonel Cotton with a storming late run to snatch the Listed Rous Stakes.
Colonel Cotton is trained by Neville Callaghan, who said: “The horse is in the sales, but I hope he doesn’t go now – he would not make the money he should because he is a sprinter.
“We might as well go for another Listed or Group Three race now. They seem to be a bit easier to win than handicaps!”
Gompertz, who also bred Colonel Cotton, said: “He has improved out of all recognition – and he was very well ridden.”
Brian Meehan was full of praise for jockey Michael Hills after watching Hilbre Island take his stable score for the season to 49 with a decisive success in the Listed Unicoin Homes Noel Murless Stakes.
Hilbre Island swept into the lead with a furlong to race and he stayed on stoutly up the hill to go three and a half lengths clear of Singleton.
Meehan said: “He will get further and develop into a nice staying horse next year. We will have a look at the cup races.
“He had just lost a bit of confidence and had a few little problems, but what Michael has done with him in his last two races has been responsible for getting him back – and, of course, the staff at home have played a big part.”
Hills went on to complete a 38-1 double when bringing his father Barry’s Danzig River home in front in the six-furlong NGK Spark Plugs Nursery (Showcase Handicap).
Frizzante did not have the luck of the draw in either the Stewards’ Cup or the Ayr Gold Cup, but everything fell into place in the Lone Star Park Fillies’ Rated Stakes and she won easily under a confident ride from Jamie Spencer.
Winning trainer James Fanshawe said: “She could run in a Listed or Group Three race back here and I am looking forward to training her next year.”
Amanda Perrett saddled first and third in the JRA Maiden Stakes.
Art Trader took the spoils in the hands of Seb Sanders, with stable companion Heir To The Throne in third spot, the pair being split by Buckeye Wonder.
Mrs Perrett said: “We don’t ever try horses together at home, but they both did a nice piece of work over seven furlongs at Lingfield the other day.
“They might have another run this season, but it is not essential as they have both run nice races.”
