The Checka clicks to delight of trainer
Eve Johnson Houghton just about held herself together after The Cheka provided the trainer with her first Group-race win in the Timeform Jury Stakes at Haydock.
A promising two-year-old in 2008, his career has been held up by a series of injuries but he had shown solid form in his two previous runs this season, finishing second to Lolly For Dolly in Ireland and Side Glance at Windsor.
The trainer has made no secret of the regard in which she holds the gelding, but praised the patience of the owners, comedian Mel Smith and Anthony Pye-Jeary.
Settled in second by Tom Queally, The Cheka was left in front two furlongs out as Kakatosi dropped away.
The favourite Regal Parade emerged as the only serious challenger but could get no closer than a length and a quarter to the 6-1 winner.
“I’m so chuffed, he really deserved that,” said Johnson Houghton.
“He’s had so many problems but I kept on telling anybody that would listen he was a good horse.
“I’m so pleased for the owners as they’ve been patient and they’ve had horses in the yard for years.
“Being gelded has really straightened him out. It’s helped as he was a big baby.
“I entered him in the Queen Anne but that looks very hot and he’s also in the Wokingham, but he’ll have too much weight in that.
“He may go to France next for the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville over six and a half furlongs as seven-furlong races are so hard to find.
“I’ve held the licence since 2007 and he’s my first Group winner.”
Queally then doubled up in the Play Poker At gcasino.com Handicap on Jeremy Noseda’s 7-4 favourite Western Aristocrat who remains unbeaten after two starts and would have been an unlucky loser having had traffic problems.
Two very smart fillies fought out the finish to the Listed EBF New Approach Grosvenor Casinos Pinnacle Stakes.
Roger Varian’s Ferdoos and Henry Cecil’s Vita Nova had only lost one race in six between them and they pulled nicely clear of last year’s Oaks runner-up Meeznah.
The pair had it between them inside the final furlong, and when Neil Callan hit Ferdoos (4-1) with the whip and she veered across the track it appeared her chance had gone.
To her credit she got back on an even keel and stuck to her task well to collar Vita Nova and win by a neck.
“She’s a very nice horse but for a four-year-old she is very babyish,” said Varian.
“She was a late starter but is very progressive and wintered very well.
“Today was a true test but the programme book dictated we came here.
“She is in a Group Three in Ireland (Noblesse Stakes) but we might wait and go for the Lancashire Oaks here and then look at races like the Lillie Langtry and the Park Hill later on. As the season goes on it is easier to plan for her.”
Jamie Spencer won the first two races on Activate (9-4) and Show Rainbow (5-2 joint-favourite).
Michael Bell’s Activate was following up two wins at the end of last season in the Bet At bluesq.com Stakes and is now on course for the Northumberland Plate.
Ian Smith, Bell’s travelling head lad, said: “He’ll be going for the Northumberland Plate now, hopefully.
“He was on the cusp of getting in before that so that should just give him the few pounds he needed to get in.”
Mick Channon’s Show Rainbow has been busy lately but had enough to just prevail in a blanket finish for the Blue Square Sandy Lane Stakes.
Ladies Are Forever appeared to make a race-winning move a furlong and a half out but was there to be shot at in the final 100 yards and Sweet Cecily and lastly March On Beetroot were others to challenge.
It was Spencer and Show Rainbow who won by a head from the latter with a neck back to Sweet Cecily.
“She’s very tough and honest, and she only ran against older fillies here seven days ago,” said Spencer.
“She felt a bit flat and didn’t really travel, but she’s durable and was fourth in the Nell Gwyn. Mick’s horses are flying too.”
