Sanders gloom at the seaside
Brighton has been kind to Seb Sanders this season but she proved a cruel mistress when he needed her most on Thursday.
The title-chasing jockey was looking for winners to preserve his lead over Jamie Spencer but ended up frustrated after suffering two narrow defeats, a blow exacerbated by his big rival hitting a four-timer at Wolverhampton in the evening to draw level.
Ryan Moore was instead the man to follow at the seaside track as he rode a treble on the day, foiling Sanders in the process by an agonising head in the Jerry Hinds Celebration Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
Riding his father Gary’s Maxwil, the 4-9 favourite on account of an eyecatching effort at Sandown last time, he hung badly in the last couple of furlongs and only managed to close the advantage opened by Sanders and Connor’s Choice in the final strides.
“I don’t think he was suited by the track,” said Gary Moore.
“We were going to put him away after Sandown, but this turned out to be a weak race.
“That’s it for the season now, as he needs another winter on his back.”
Moore then produced a fine display to land the most valuable event of the card, the sportingindex.com/racing Handicap on John Gosden’s 11-4 favourite Transcend.
The chestnut raced down the centre of the track and only caught fire in the closing stages to score tidily.
“They tell me he was a bit unlucky the last day when drawn the wrong side but he won well and could make a nice sprint handicapper next year,” explained Moore.
There was no better luck for Sanders in the Regis Recruitment Nursery, as his ride Fandangerina took an age to warm up and was only beaten a short head by Relinquished (5-1 favourite).
Winning trainer Jeremy Noseda is now nine from 14 at the track since 2003 and William Buick judged things perfectly, keeping just enough in reserve.
Moore collected his hat-trick very easily in the Bob Daley Memorial Selling Handicap by deliberately moving to the stands rail aboard Gary Moore’s 6-4 favourite Bridgewater Boys.
Downhiller and Yaddree engaged in a private duel for nearly the duration the EBF John Hunter – Follow Your Instinct Maiden Stakes, with the latter just getting the call by a short head.
Yaddree was given Group entries by the Michael Jarvis yard earlier in the season and felt the full power of a Philip Robinson special from the front.
Sean Curran was sporting a smile as he welcomed in his well-backed Sagunt after the Visit Better On Queens Road, Brighton Handicap.
The ex-German gelding was sent off at 5-1 when stepped back up to a mile here and won with a little in hand under Paul Doe.
Curran said: “I’ve had him two or three months and he cost enough. I want to go hurdling with him this winter, but he may need a wind operation.”
The venue bade farewell for the year in the Brighton Betting Just Got Better Apprentice Handicap, which went emphatically to John Akehurst’s Mixing (10-1) and Patrick Hills.
