Ermine opens winning account
Ermine Sea – placed four times this season including at Royal Ascot – got off the mark with a courageous display in the Gardner Mechanical Services Maiden Stakes at Newbury.
Unplaced on his sole start as a juvenile, John Gosden’s charge looked beaten when thundering down the straight but the 5-4 favourite showed great resolution to get back up and score going away by a length and three-quarters.
Jimmy Fortune really got the Queen’s Vase third motoring close home and the colt won well in the end, despite dropping back from two miles to a mile and a half, beating Altenburg (16-1) and Hyperalert (5-2).
Gosden’s representative Les Reynolds said: “We are very happy with that as it would be a minimum trip for him – he really needs two miles.
“Jimmy thought he was beaten but he has dug deep and is very game – he has a touch of class. I am sure the boss will have a plan for him.”
Paper Talk bounced back from a lifeless display in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting to defy top weight in the stanspoker.co.uk Handicap over seven furlongs.
Michael Hills took the lead inside the final furlong aboard the 13-2 chance and the pair came away to claim victory by half a length from Grizedale (16-1) with Binanti finishing third.
The winner caused some problems in behind when edging right close home, causing the runner-up to move in which in turn caused Surwaki to clip heels and fall unseating Adam Kirby.
Steve Drowne’s mount Postgraduate was also brought down in the melee.
The stewards banned Hills for careless riding and he will be out of action on July 17 and 18.
“He has done it well and has plenty of ability,” said Hills’ father Barry. “Ascot was a bit of a messy race but he likes fast ground and he should win another race.”
Traffic Guard surprised Stan Moore when running out a ready winner of the Stan James EBF Maiden Stakes under John Egan.
Having seen fellow juvenile Teen Ager turned over on his debut at Leicester last week, Moore was perplexed by Traffic Guard’s 33-1 win, which came by a length from Prime Defender (11-1).
“He is a lovely horse and has been working well,” said Moore. “I ran one of my best two-year-olds last week and he dsappointed so we just had to bring this one here and see.
“He has done it well but is a big horse and will not be overcooked this year.”
