Voltage finds winning spark
High Voltage could be set for a step up in class after romping home at Ripon today.
The runners in the Ripon Future Sprint Stars Handicap over six furlongs split into two groups, but it soon became clear that the quick-starting High Voltage held a decisive advantage on the far side.
Keeping up the gallop under Darren Williams, High Voltage (40-1) came home virtually unchallenged on his first start of the season to score by three lengths from Red Romeo, who raced on the stands side.
Distant Times, the 7-4 favourite who also raced on the far side, was half a length back in third.
“That surprised me because we thought he’d get a bit tired towards the end,” said winning trainer Karl Burke.
“He showed ability last year but he was a rig and that may have been bothering him, so we got that sorted out.
“We always knew he had ability but to win like that off 91 means he could be Listed class.
“We’ll certainly have some fun with him. The sky’s the limit now.”
Putra Sandhurst ended a barren spell stretching back to July 2001 with a convincing all-the-way success in the ripon-races.co.uk Conditions Stakes.
Philip Robinson gave the 7-4 favourite a fine tactical ride and when pressed in the final quarter of a mile of the 12-furlong contest by Grampian, he had enough left up his sleeve to hold the runner-up’s strong challenge by a length.
Winning trainer Michael Jarvis said: “He hasn’t won for a long time. He had all his four-year-old days off with leg trouble.
“But he ran some good races last year and he’s a decent horse when everything goes right. It suits him to be ridden like that.
“I was worried about the ground (soft, good to soft in places) but it has just dried up enough for him because he doesn’t like very soft ground.”
Jarvis added: “He’s very high in the handicap so we’ll try and find another conditions race. I should think that would be the plan, but it’s not easy placing these sort of horses.”
James Given was happy with Grampian’s effort on his first run back for 540 days.
He said: “If we played this match again I think there would be a different result.”
Jarvis and Robinson completed a short-priced double when Maganda (4-6) comfortably landed the Aldborough Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Newmarket trainer Mark Wallace won with his first runner at the track when Polly Alexander made all under Kevin Darley in the Dishforth Novice Auction Fillies’ Stakes over the minimum trip.
Polly Alexander has now won twice and Wallace, who has about 25 two-year-olds, said: “She’s a tough little filly and she wants six furlongs.
“We’ll give her a month off and bring her back on better ground.”
George Stubbs finished well under Frankie McDonald to land the two-mile C B Hutchinson Memorial Challenge Cup.
The 14-1 chance was continuing trainer Mark Polglase’s recent run of good form.
“That’s my fifth winner this week,” he said.
And of George Stubbs he added: “He deserved to win that.
“He settled a lot better today and the waiting tactics made the difference. He got boxed in but found a gap when it mattered.
“He saw the trip out well because he has run well in the past over six and seven furlongs.”
There was no bid for Fortunes Favourite after the George Moore-trained filly won the Bandstand Selling Stakes in the hands of Eddie Ahern.
