Aussie ace excels at Doncaster
Crack Australian rider Clare Lindop partnered her second British winner on just her third outing as Medicean Man ran away with the Simpson Millar Family Law Service Maiden Stakes at Doncaster.
The 30-year-old is a huge name Down Under, having partnered in excess of 600 winners, including three Group Ones, and enhanced her reputation on foreign shores by scoring on Jeremy Gask’s 8-1 chance.
The Adelaide-based jockey has already ridden work during her stay for Aidan O’Brien.
In addition to returning to Ireland, she is also planning to spend time on the gallops in Newmarket with Sir Michael Stoute and Luca Cumani.
Lindop said: “My time here has been fantastic, and I know Jeremy from Adelaide, which is where he is from.
“I have always wanted to come and ride here and it has gone better than I could have expected.
“Jeremy has no retained jockey, which has helped, and after riding a couple of winners I can go home happy.”
Lindop came close to a Doncaster double in the closing CWU Legal Services Handicap as she was beaten just a head into second by Greek import Valmari (12-1).
Franny Norton visited the Doncaster winner’s enclosure before heading off to Chester’s evening meeting by making all the running in the Simpson Millar Sound Investment Advice Handicap aboard Shotley Mac.
The 8-1 winner appeared to have the field at full stretch entering the final two furlongs, only for Castles In The Air to come with a determined challenge and run the Neville Bycroft-trained five-year-old to a head.
Norton said: “He put his head down and wanted to win as much as I did.
“He hasn’t had his soft ground all year so has slipped down the handicap and has pulled it off.”
The jockey’s day was tarnished, however, by a two-day suspension (July 11,13) for using his whip with excessive frequency.
There is stopping Michael Dods’ Legal Legacy (5-2), who rattled off a hat-trick in taking fashion under Phillip Makin in the Keep The Post Public Handicap.
Wigan Lane hit the target on her third career outing when pipping Cherry Bee in the EBF simpsonmillar.co.uk Solicitors Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Richard Fahey’s juvenile, who posted solid efforts at Redcar and Chester on her previous outings, brushed aside Mark Johnston’s representative by a neck under Frederik Tylicki.
Fahey’s assistant, Robin O’Ryan, said of the 7-2 winner: “She has improved with each run, is a sound and honest filly and she deserved to win that.
“The plan was to make her a winner, so we’ll see where we go from here – I don’t see any reason to move away from six furlongs.”
Champion jockey Ryan Moore partnered Avon River (5-1) on his unsuccessful debut in April, and again teamed up with Richard Hannon’s 5-1 shot to claim the Simpson Millar Maximum Compensation For Injury Novice Stakes.
Moore made his trip north more than worthwhile by completing a short-priced double as 6-5 favourite The Scorching Wind breezed home in CW Racing Club Handicap.
