Faz be good for D'Arcy
Britain’s newest racecourse Great Leighs moved into overdrive this week with a valuable three-day meeting and the opening afternoon saw an impressive victory for the Paul d’Arcy-trained Fazbee.
The Essex track is still a little rough around the edges with its owner John Holmes continuing to make gradual adjustments, but prize money and decent horses have proved easy to attract so far.
Fazbee certainly looked a filly with a future and found the Chris Wotton Cup Novice Auction Stakes much more to her liking than her previous outing in the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes.
D’Arcy felt the seven furlongs in the Newmarket event was a little too far and the 6-5 favourite, already a winner at Yarmouth, was barely extended on the drop back to six.
Darryll Holland coaxed Fazbee in front into the home straight and she pulled an easy four lengths away of 2-1 shot Noodles Blue Boy.
“The ground and the trip at Newmarket did not suit her last time and Philip Robinson just came back that day and said she didn’t stay,” explained the d’Arcy.
“I’d like to keep her low-key for the moment and she’s still a bit weak. I had tried to get black type with her, but that can wait until next year.”
Ryan Moore extended his already long lead in the champion jockey race with a double, showcasing his talent particularly in just winning a battle of wits with Jimmy Fortune in the Tiptree Handicap.
Fortune was clever from the front aboard the William Jarvis-trained Natural Action (3-1), stealing a neat advantage into the home straight while Moore was toiling away on the 9-4 favourite City Stable.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained City Stable had placed on four of his five starts but was able to win for the first time as he responded enough to head his rival on the line.
Trainer’s representative John Cork said: “Jimmy rode a great race in front, slowing it down and quickening up again but this is a game little colt.
“He was up to a mile and six today from a mile and a half, but I couldn’t tell you what he’ll do now.”
Both jockeys were given one-day bans (September 9) for over-using the whip, while Fortune missed his final ride as he was reported to have hurt his finger in the stalls.
The betting suggested Moore would capture the Birch Green Claiming Stakes easily aboard Hilbre Court for the in-form Brian Meehan.
He was made the 4-9 favourite due to some efforts in better company and scored comfortably enough by a length despite hanging right.
Pegasus Dancer created a little piece of history by winning the track’s first ever seller.
Trainer Kevin Ryan was also among the winners at Ripon but backers of his gelding, the 9-2 favourite had to hold their breath as it appeared he had been caught on the line by Monte Major (7-1).
On closer inspection a nose was the winning margin for Pegasus Dancer, who was bought in for 4,000 guineas at the auction of the Dover Court-sponsored event.
Brendan Duke made his own record as Bramalea (13-2) and James Doyle took the Little Oakley Handicap in good style as the charismatic Lambourn trainer’s first ever runner at the venue.
“She ran at Bath on Friday but came out of it so well we tried again. She’s really on an upward curve,” Duke said.
