Sanders hits Windsor hat-trick
Seb Sanders took Windsor’s opening fixture of 2008 by storm, notching a magnificent near 535-1 treble highlighted by his success on By Command in the HSBC Investment Maiden Stakes.
Sanders had already scored on Bonnie Charlie and Silver Spruce when getting the leg up on By Command, who was sent off the 13-8 favourite to endorse the promise of what had been an interrupted juvenile campaign.
He came through to challenge Criterion two furlongs out and when Sanders gave him the signal, By Command sprinted clear by six lengths.
Trainer John Dunlop said: “I’m pleased with that. He won well although I would think it’s a pretty ordinary maiden.
“The ground wasn’t as soft as I thought it would be, but he couldn’t have done it much better.”
The Arundel trainer revealed that By Command had been injured after his second and final outing in 2007.
He added: “He might have tweaked a tibia because he came back from Salisbury lame behind and when we got him back it was too late to run him again.
“Hopefully he’ll now make up for the lost time, but we’ll have to see what the handicapper says before making a plan.”
Sanders parted company with Look So (11-1) on the way to post for the At The Races Handicap but reunited at the start, Ralph Beckett’s filly was back on her best behaviour.
She responded to Sanders’ urgings as he delivered her wide to get the best of a thrilling three-way photo, beating Trans Siberian and Highland Harvest by a neck and a short head.
Beckett observed: “I’ve trained three out of the mare and they’ve all been at their best when fresh, so you might have seen the best of this filly today.
“She’s caught everybody out at home and doesn’t give anyone any warning.
“She’s by Efisio out of a Rainbow Quest mare and needs this cut in the ground.”
Sanders, who began his career with trainer Bryan McMahon, served-up the opening leg of his treble for that man’s son Ed when bringing newcomer Silver Spruce (16-1) home by a length from King Supreme in the Goldring Security Services Claiming Stakes.
Richard Hannon is three from three with his juvenile runners this year following the impressive display of Bonnie Charlie in the Reading Evening Post Maiden Stakes.
The 46,000-guineas purchase from Doncaster Sales beat Miss Chamanda by two lengths in the five-furlong heat.
Hannon said: “I don’t know how good this fella is. He’s not particularly big but we wanted one who would be early and he lives up to that.
“I felt our other runner Rich Red ran green while this one had a clear run.”
After The Show is proving a fine money spinner for Rae Guest and he completed a hat-trick for his Newmarket handler when getting up to beat Hereford Boy a head in the Grant Thornton Handicap.
Guest commented: “He hadn’t won for two years and then he goes and wins three in a fortnight. He’s taken off since being put back onto grass.
“I’d like to go with him again but there’s nothing for over a week.”
David Evans sent out a stunner when 20-1 chance Kensington outbattled Savile’s Delight to take the concluding Monday Night Racing Returns 21st April Handicap by a short head.
