Patavellian ends losing spell
Patavellian bounced back to form and secured his first victory in almost two years when making all to land the At The Races Conditions Stakes at Yarmouth.
The stage may have been a long way removed from when the seven-year-old bagged his last success – the Group One Prix de l’Abbaye – but jockey Steve Drowne was more than satisfied with the two-and-a-half-length win.
Drowne never appeared to have a moment’s concern under Beckhampton trainer Roger Charlton’s charge, grabbing the lead on the off and controlling the race throughout.
Fayr Jag, the other Group One winner in the field, did stage a late rally without threatening to rein in the 6-5 favourite, while Alta Petens was one-and-a-half-lengths back in third.
“He’s no back number. He’s moving well, everything seems right and that was a lovely confidence booster,” said Drowne.
“He has been running well all year apart from one little fluff at Newcastle (when last).
“He was third in the Prix Maurice de Gheest when he probably didn’t stay the six and a half furlongs.
"And look at the form. The winner Whipper ran second to Dubawi (in the Prix Jacques le Marois) and the runner-up Goodricke went and won the Sprint Cup.
“It’s been nice for him to win. He hasn’t had a smack and done it how he wanted.”
Drowne also feels that Patavellian could give another good account of himself if he has another crack at the Abbaye on October 2.
He added: “I hope with a bit of soft ground he could go there and run well again.”
Famcred had plenty to do over three furlongs out when at the back of the 13-runner field in the Jack Leader Challenge Trophy Fillies’ Nursery.
But the Luca Cumani-trained filly revealed a striking turn of foot to speed past her rivals, collaring Creative Mind inside the final 50 yards.
Her half-length victory was a taking performance and it would be no surprise if the 2-1 winner made her mark in a higher grade this autumn.
Guillermo Arizkorreta, assistant to the winning trainer Luca Cumani, said: “She is a lovely filly and has been working well at home. She keeps improving and did it well at the end.”
After a 291-day lay-off Great Fox made a winning return to action in the At The Races Sprint.
Chris Catlin had the four-year-old chasing the leaders on the stands side before going clear in the final furlong to take the race by three-quarters of a length.
Pat Gilligan, who trained the 10-1 shot, said: “He’s a nice horse who we really liked at two.
“He didn’t give us the right signals last year and his recent work wasn’t that impressive but his general demeanour was much better so we had to take it on trust.”
Newmarket-based trainer John Berry is enjoying a decent run at the moment and Picot De Say gave him a third success from five runners when securing the J & H Signs Claiming Stakes with three lengths to spare.
Berry said: “This is made very special by the fact he is the first winner I’ve trained by Largesse, who was our stable star a few years ago. I actually trained the dam as well, so this has given me a lot of pleasure.”
The Fulke Johnson Houghton-trained Rubies (6-1) made all to win the first division of the six-furlong Thomas Prior Maiden Stakes as she pleased.
Eve Johnson Houghton, assistant to her father, said: “It really suited her, not being challenged and just being allowed to bowl along. We might try and find a little handicap for her next as she’s in very good nick.”
The second division was clinched by Redeye Special to give the season’s leading jockey Jamie Spencer his 133rd winner of the campaign.
Able Charlie was a three-length winner in the BBC Radio Norfolk Selling Stakes and was subsequently bought in for 6,000gns.
Bowled Out was a topically named winner of the concluding Constitution Motors Norwich constitution.co.uk handicap.
With the country basking in the Ashes success of England’s cricketers, the 16-1 chance came out best in a thrilling finale to the extended 11-furlong contest, prevailing by a neck from the game Velvet Waters.
