Moore hits Newbury hat-trick
Champion jockey Ryan Moore advertised his skills when posting an incredible 1,733-1 treble at Newbury, highlighted by Darrfonah’s victory in the Lord Weinstock Memorial Stakes.
The 23-year-old only returned to the saddle last week following a spell on the sidelines, and celebrated his biggest win since as Clive Brittain’s filly bounced back to form in the Listed event.
Having chased home dual Classic winner Finsceal Beo as a juvenile, she has taken time to find her feet but swept from last to first to collect by three-quarters of a length from Russian Rosie.
Brittain said of the 11-1 winner: “She ran a bad race in the Guineas where she messed about so we put blinkers on her and they didn’t suit.
“I thought she would run a big race in the Oaks and Eddie Ahern said he was getting a great feel from her until she got struck into and lost a shoe.
“This was the first chance she had to show what a good filly she is, and she has come from stone last and cruised through.
“She’ll go to the Coronation now and then onto Goodwood for the Nassau.”
Moore’s other winners came aboard Richard Hannon’s Altar (16-1) in the Bathwick Tyres Handicap, and on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Hi Calypso (15-2) in the Bathwick Tyres Swindon Handicap.
There were further clues for next week’s Royal extravaganza as Paul Cole’s River Proud (17-2) bounded home by an impressive five lengths in division two of the Betdaq First For Multiples Maiden Stakes.
He could be joining stablemate Luck Money in Tuesday’s Coventry Stakes, and his trainer Paul Cole said: “They are both entered at the moment.
“Luck Money will definitely run but we will have to see about this one as he was held up for a month with terrible ringworm.”
River Proud’s jockey Richard Quinn completed a 28-1 double as he drove Summer Dancer up to oblige as the 2-1 favourite in the Barrettstown Stud Handicap.
Midships made a promising start to his career when making all under Richard Hughes to land the first division of the maiden by a length and a quarter from the 13-8 favourite Alwaabel.
Trainer Amanda Perrett’s husband and assistant Mark said of the 16-1 winner: “We are in no rush with him but he is a nice horse to look forward too.”
Hughes also completed a double as Shirley A Star (66-1) gave Brian Meehan a first winner for 24 days with a bold front-running display in the Doyle Clayton Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Meehan said: “I noticed some of the horses had a bug around the Craven time but they seem to be coming out of it now.
“I’m not going to rush them as it is a long season, and I think we will probably take around 10-12 horses to Royal Ascot but I am just going to take it day by day.”
