Soba win is family affair
John Balding paid tribute to the skills of his daughter Claire and her husband Jason Edmunds after Soba Jones notched a 10th career success at Southwell.
The nine-year-old was led up by Balding’s daughter while 3lb claimer Edmunds steered the 13-8 shot to a one-and-three-quarter-length success over Up Tempo.
Balding said: “The old horse is in good nick. He is a bit long in the tooth but he is a gelding and keeps plodding on.
“The yard is firing at the moment, touch wood, and in all fairness it is down to Claire and Jason. They do the job right and are absolutely brilliant.”
Former international showjumper Peter Grayson has high hopes for the coming Flat campaign and Stoneacre Boy demonstrated the well-being of his string with a fine success in the Experience Nottinghamshire Handicap.
Garlogs set the early pace but Robbie Fitzpatrick drove the 6-4 favourite into the lead at the furlong marker and kept him up to his work to score by three lengths.
Grayson, who represented Great Britain’s showjumping team on 27 occasions, said: “That is our 19th Flat winner, 10 of them this season.
“We have 45 to start the Turf season. They include 23 two-year-olds and hopefully four or five of them will turn out to be good.”
Peter Hiatt snapped up a bargain in Isa’af, who continues to pay his way and struck again under Phillip Makin in the Dine In The Queen Mother Restaurant Handicap.
Victory Quest made the running closely followed by Isa’af, who was sent past him at the two-furlong marker and driven clear to score by lengths at odds of 5-2.
Hiatt said: “Isa’af has been very good to us. That is nine he has won since we bought him as a three-year-old for just over £2,000 (€2,900).
“I think he only had a couple of runs for Alec Stewart, but he was apparently always lame. He is totally genuine, though.”
Richard Thomas was suspended for four days (March 31 to April 3) for failing to ride out for fourth place on Indian Chase, who was caught by Moon Emperor.
John Weymes’ decision to take on Secret Tender reaped a winning dividend when the three-year-old took the southwell-racecourse.co.uk Selling Handicap.
Secret Tender, who was formerly owned by Nancy Heaton, was sent to the Doncaster Sales a few weeks ago and sold for 900 guineas.
However, he was returned to Weymes, whose colours he now carries, because he was a windsucker.
He said: “I took a chance and kept him to try and win a race with him and he has done.”
Robert Winston partnered the 9-2 shot and he completed a near 17-1 double on the Karl Burke-trained Vancouver Gold (9-4) in the concluding Sponsor A Race At Southwell Fillies’ Handicap.
Tim Easterby sent out his first winner of the year on the Flat when Webbow (4-1) landed the Golf And Racing At Southwell Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
