Dimboola books Ascot ticket
Dimboola is heading for Royal Ascot after justifying odds-on favouritism in the EBF Spa Welter Maiden Stakes at Ripon.
Barry Hills’ juvenile was sent off at 2-5 on the strength of three solid efforts and he proceeded to make all the running under the stand rails to beat Riotous by a cosy length and a quarter.
Joint-owner Guy Reed said: “That didn’t ask much of him and he goes to Ascot next for the Windsor Castle Stakes but he wants a lead – he’ll get one there! But he’d have to perform better than that down there.
“He shows a lot of speed at home and that’s what encourages us.”
Desert Commander returned to winning form with a vengeance in the Ripon, Cathedral City Of The Dales Handicap to continue the hot streak enjoyed by Kevin Ryan’s runners.
The 6-1 chance had scored at Thirsk on his return from a long lay-off before disappointing at York next time.
But he made no mistake here under Neil Callan as he stormed away inside the final furlong to beat Zidane by a comfortable two and a half lengths.
After greeting his 54th winner of the season, Ryan said: “There could have been a few reasons for York, maybe it was the soft ground.
“We’ll look at something like the Stewards’ Cup or the Gosforth Park Cup for him.
“He has a high cruising speed and a good turn of foot. He’s only a four-year-old and has got it all in front of him.”
Callan went on to complete a 43-1 double when he got Brian Meehan’s It’s Unbelievable home by half a length in the Grantley Maiden Stakes.
Jamie Spencer brought Moon On A Spoon with a daring run up the inside to land the Weatherbys Bank Handicap.
The James Fanshawe-trained filly was slow to start and as a result was stuck at the back of the field behind a wall of horses in the straight.
The champion jockey decided to switch to the far rail with a quarter of a mile to go and after weaving his way through the pack, he hit the front approaching the final furlong.
Moon On A Spoon was now in full flight and the 12-1 shot ran on strongly to hold Fregate Island at bay by a length.
“I don’t know whether it was a good ride or a lucky ride but he sat cool and got the breaks and that’s the main thing,” Fanshawe said.
He added: “That win was a big relief because she’s looked quite nice at home but she was very disappointing at Kempton last time. She was a bit keen and didn’t finish. I don’t know whether it was the turf here or not but she has clearly improved a lot.”
The stewards, however, were not too impressed and banned Spencer for two days (June 17 and 18) for careless riding after he was found to have caused interference to the unplaced Manouche.
The suspension rules him out of Timeform Charity day at York.
Jimmy Quinn took the ‘Spencer’ route to win the closing Studley Royal Handicap on the Mick Easterby-trained Zarova.
While Bright Sun won the Home Sale Network Handicap under a canny front-running ride from Kim Tinkler.
