Candy strikes with bargain buys

Bargain buys Polonius and Carini were on the mark for trainer Henry Candy at Nottingham.

Both were partnered by Dane O’Neill and were winning for a second time.

Polonius, a winner on his racecourse debut at Chepstow, and third at Salisbury next time, is certainly going the right way.

When asked to quicken he did so effortlessly to head Bonne de Fleur a furlong and a half out and go three and a half lengths clear in the David Ashley Construction Limited Novice Auction Stakes.

Thirty five minutes later Carini, a winner at Salisbury first time out, made it two out of two with a fine staying performance in the Mainland Contractors Novice Stakes, leading from pillar to post and bursting four lengths clear of Fancy Foxtrot in the final furlong.

Candy said: “We bought the two for 8,000gns at the Doncaster St Leger Sales last year, we got Polonius for 6,000gns and Carini 2,000gns, so we haven’t done too badly.”

Polonius is part-owned by Peter Deal, whose Make A Stand won the 1997 Champion Hurdle and was initially trained by Candy who said: “Dane said Polonius will get seven furlongs next year, he is still weak – but he is a huge, big horse and a lovely mover, Brian Clotworthy who rides him at home said it is an unbelievable experience, his feet never seem to touch the ground.”

Carini would not win any beauty contests, but handsome is as handsome does, and Candy added with a smile: “Doesn’t she look awful, I am a bit embarrassed, but she is all heart!

“It was an amazing performance, there were some lovely-looking horses in the race, but it is amazing what heart and determination will do – she won’t run again this season, but she has a real staying pedigree and next year she will want a mile and a half.”

Candy has his team in good heart, and he went on: “We had a patch before York when they all got sick, but they have come back well now.”

John Carroll made the most of his only ride of the day when bringing Eoghan O’Neill’s Uncle Cent a wide margin winner of the 10-furlong Ashton Bond Gigg Maiden Stakes. And O’Neill is hoping the win is a good omen for the colt’s final race of the season, as he explained:

"Forest Magic (trained by Paul d’Arcy) won today’s race last year and then went on to win the Listed Zetland Stakes at Newmarket.

“It has been the plan for a long time to run Uncle Cent in that race, there is an alternative in France, but I think he will go to Newmarket.”

Jockey Michael Hills teamed up with his brother John to land the 10-furlong Browne Jacobson Stakes after which the Lambourn trainer said: “Brave Call was sick after the Britannia (at Royal Ascot), he did not run his race there and he needed it when he had his first run since at Newmarket the other day.

“He is in the Sales next week, but I would like to keep him, there will be a fair bit of improvement in him next year and he will almost certainly get further.”

Polar Jem, ridden by Adrian MaCarthy had a neck to spare over Change Partners in the Freethcartwright LLP Maiden Stakes after which trainer George Margarson said: “That is a relief, we have had a barren spell – she is in the Sales next Wednesday, but I might get another run in to her on Tuesday.”

Wayne Hogg was confirmed the winner of the ‘Teletext Racing, Hands And Heels Apprentice Series’ even though his mount Fen Gypsy finished 14th in the final round won by Alec Stewart’s Ryan’s Future, ridden by Chris Connett.