Captain takes charge
Despite it being only the first meeting of the year at Brighton, regulars are unlikely to see a more progressive horse all season than Captain Webb.
Mark Johnston’s colt got off the mark at the track last October and is now three from three for his career after romping home by 20 lengths.
He was sent off 4-9 favourite but rider Joe Fanning was never challenged in the Kings Golden Disc Derby Handicap.
Johnston’s representative Hayley Brough reported: “He was perhaps still a bit green when he won at Leicester the other day but he certainly wasn’t green today.”
Following the victory of The Galloping Shoe in the Whole Lotta Racin’ Goin’ On Median Auction Maiden Stakes, Jeremy Noseda can now claim a course record of 10 from 14 starts since 2004 and a profit of nearly £18 for a pound staked on each.
It took the gelded son of Observatory a while to get going on his racecourse debut but Seb Sanders was in no mood to compromise and the even-money favourite eventually pulled four lengths clear of Lady Longcroft.
“Seb just said he was a bit of a baby but he’s gone and done it OK,” said Noseda.
“No big pretensions but hopefully he’ll win a race or two more.”
Winners have also been very easy to come by for the estimable Paul Cole this week and the feature Jukebox Showdown Handicap went to the trainer’s Bentong.
Richard Quinn’s only mount of the day was made the 2-1 favourite for the six-furlong dash and eventually overhauled Angus Newz to score by a length and a half.
“I do think he would be better on a more conventional track but he has a bit of class and that’s what got him through,” said Quinn.
Another handler to have hit the ground running is Andrew Balding, although Restless Genius was easy to back at 9-1 in the Fantastic Fifties Furlongs Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
An unremarkable showing on his sole start last season would not have installed much confidence but after being steadied from the stalls, he picked up well for Martin Dwyer.
“I think that’s my first winner for Favourites Racing and they have been very patient with this horse as he was backward last season,” said Balding.
Carl Llewellyn was a rare sighting at the South Coast course but the trainer struck with his first ever runner as The Greggi G’s Crazy GG’s Handicap went the way of his Steig (15-2).
The 8-11 favourite Gunnadoit made hard work of the Komedia Brighton Classified Stakes, while Harvest Joy (12-1) defied an absence of 207 days in the Chantilly Race Handicap.
“She had a slight pelvis problem so she just went in a field and learned to become a horse again. She’s probably even won a bit too easily,” said trainer John Gallagher.
