Victory for Warsaw at Kempton
Warsaw made the perfect start to his career with trainer Mike de Kock at Kempton today in circumstances rather different than those he has been accustomed to.
During a two-year-old season with Aidan O'Brien, the Danehill Dancer colt won a Listed race at the Curragh before struggling in Group company - although finishing adrift of New Approach, Henrythenavigator, Fleeting Spirit and Saoirse Abu was not exactly a disgrace.
Warsaw is now temporarily housed in Newmarket as part of the South African trainer's European squad and made his first appearance for 346 days in the six-furlong Betdaq The Betting Exchange Handicap.
Trying blinkers on this occasion, he was a generous 16-1 in a reasonable-looking event but class told and Warsaw proved too strong for Ebraam in the closing stages.
De Kock's only previous British winner was when his stable flagbearer Archipenko, another transferred from O'Brien, took the Summer Mile at Ascot.
"Kempton's great - the surface is good and a couple of the other jocks said that was quite a tough race," said rider Kevin Shea.
"This isn't one of our best ones - he's done one or two nice pieces of work but not much.
"We know where we are with him now and I'm quite excited both for him and for some of our other horses. I'm sure there will be some good prizes for him at the Dubai winter carnival."
A fair crowd appeared for the Bank Holiday card and racegoers also experienced a smart performance from the Henry Cecil-trained Many Volumes (2-1 favourite).
A colt whose reputation has largely preceded him, Many Volumes appears more mature as a four-year-old and he followed his Listed race victory at Sandown by brushing off his opponents in the betdaq.co.uk EBF Conditions Stakes with minimal effort.
"I couldn't be more happy really - he's stepped up again here and was doing all his best work at the end," said Cecil's assistant Mike Marshall, who was not at liberty to disclose any future plans.
Cecil's efforts to follow up in the Bet Premier League Football - Betdaq Handicap were dashed when Muhannak (8-1) denied his Tomintoul Flyer in the final strides.
Mark Wallace lined up a double although it was his apparent second string, the unraced Captain Ramius (13-2), who set the ball rolling in the Bet US Open Tennis - Betdaq EBF Maiden Stakes.
The better fancied Learo Dochais (11-4) held every chance but weakened into fifth while the Jamie Spencer-ridden Captain Ramius showed much more sparkle to quicken away by two and a half lengths.
"The winner has done some nice work at home but I with 50-odd runners still in there before the declaration stage I thought the race would split and I'd have two chances at it," explained Wallace of the apparently surprising result.
"I am a bit disappointed with the other horse, but he hasn't run for a while. Captain Ramius won't be going for Pattern races or anything, but he's a nice horse."
Wallace's Geoffdaw (10-1), visored for the first time, completed the double in the Happy Birthday topnaps.com Handicap.
New headgear also worked for Landucci (14-1) as he completed back-to-back victories in the brendanpowellracing.com Handicap.
First-time cheekpieces had worked the oracle a year ago and now it was the application of a visor as Patrick Hills again steered him home for his uncle and trainer John.
The rider beamed: "I love him - I think he's given me five winners and my uncle (Michael) has won on him a few times too.
"He's a bit of a character so we thought the visor would give him a change of scene."
A host of horses suffered interference with Richard Hughes on Namid Reprobate receiving a four-day careless riding ban (September 8-11) while Shane Kelly (Blow Hole) will be off for September 8 and 9 for the same offence.
John Gosden's Cave Lion (11-2), on just his fourth start against more exposed rivals, came home an easy three lengths clear in the Go Racing With Brendan Powell Racing Handicap.
