Suggestive strikes for Haggas
William Haggas’ Suggestive broke his Group-race duck on his 37th start in the Woodfood Reserve Criterion Stakes at a sun-drenched Newmarket.
Played out in front of a healthy crowd despite the lack of any World Cup coverage on the course, the Group Three contest attracted a useful field with dual Royal Ascot winner New Seeker being sent off the 5-4 market leader.
The favourite bowled along in front for most of the seven-furlong contest but started to back-pedal on the climb to the line as Nicky Mackay swept past on the 10-1 winner for a head verdict.
Mac Love (6-1) came from off the pace to briefly lead but had to settle for second with New Seeker third and Nayyir – who finished third in the race last year – fourth after suffering a desperately unlucky passage under Neil Callan.
“That was great – he has run a really good race and I am really pleased,” said Haggas’ wife Maureen.
“That is his first win in Group company. He has been placed before and won at Listed but never won at this level.
“Seven furlongs is his ideal trip and as long as the ground is good, we will probably go to Goodwood for the Lennox Stakes.”
Brian Meehan has big plans for Admiral’s Cruise (13-2) after the four-year-old came from off the pace to run away with the Listed Fred Archer Stakes.
The colt, who was providing Jimmy Fortune with the second leg of a double, had won in good style over a mile and a half at Newmarket two starts ago, but baffled Meehan with a subsequent below-par effort at Ascot.
There was no repeat of that run, though, as Admiral’s Cruise quickened when asked and strode past the pace-setting Art Eyes to win in the style of an improving sort.
Ouninpohja (7-2) was full of running but was boxed in at a crucial stage and had to settle for second, four lengths away, with Amwell Brave defying his 100-1 starting price in third.
Last year’s St Leger fifth Hard Top was sent off the 4-5 favourite to regain winning ways but he trailed in second-last, with Sir Michael Stoute’s representative claiming the colt ran too free.
“He was impressive and has beaten some really nice horses,” said Meehan.
“I don’t know what went wrong at Ascot but he did it right today.
“Jimmy believes next year will be the year for him – and I agree. We might try him in a Group Three this summer but he is a great mile-and-a-half prospect for next year.”
Hope’n’charity justified strong market support to make all in the six-furlong Listed Walker Transport Empress Stakes.
The task for Clive Cox’s juvenile was made easier when her main rival Indian Ink was declared a non-runner, but the once-raced filly put in a fair performance to extend her unbeaten run.
Philip Robinson had the 5-4 favourite smartly away and she found more when challenged in the final couple of furlongs to beat Satulagi (5-1) and My Lovely Lesley (14-1) by a length and a neck respectively.
“She was very fresh but she did it well and is quick enough,” said Cox. “I have always thought a lot of her and she is going places.
“On pedigree she should get seven furlongs and I have always thought she would. She was so fresh and free here you might not think so, but I would put that down to her being so well in herself.”
Fortune had earlier been on the mark when Rallying Cry made an impressive racecourse debut for John Gosden in the newmarketracecourses.co.uk Maiden Stakes.
Fortune brought the son of War Chant down the outside of the pack to win going away in the seven-furlong contest.
The 7-1 chance crossed the line with two and a half lengths to spare over Farleigh House (20-1) with Castara Bay (15-2) a head away in third.
“He is a very nice horse and is a tall, leggy individual,” said Gosden. “He was bought out of the Keeneland Sales for 90,000 and his mother was a Group winner.
“He is a long-term prospect and I will put him away now for the Solario Stakes (at Sandown on August 26).”
Savernake Blue (10-1) bounced back from a spell in the doldrums to take the Home of Horse Racing Handicap while the EBF Fillies’ Handicap went the way of Wednesday’s Salisbury runner-up Kelucia (4-1).
