A HORSE owned by The King and bred by the late Queen started a new chapter in the Royal Family’s long association with Redcar Racecourse today.
Desert Hero, a handsome son of legendary Derby winner Sea The Stars, easily won the EBF Double Trigger Novice Stakes at the seaside track.
The chestnut two-year-old, trained at Newmarket by William Haggas, was the first runner at Redcar for King Charles since he inherited horses from his mother, who was a passionate supporter of racing.
Despite running green, the 1-7 shot drew clear under jockey Cieren Fallon to win by three lengths from Burglar’s Dream, trained at Malton by Tim Easterby.
The Queen had plenty of winners at Redcar over the years, going back to Castle Yard winning the Zetland Gold Cup in 1968, and Desert Hero looks an exciting horse to carry The King’s purple and scarlet colours next season.
“He’s still a big baby and learning all the time. They were very testing conditions, so it was a question of teaching him, but he’s done it nicely in the end. It’s all about next year for him really,” said Fallon.
Hambleton trainer Bryan Smart hasn’t had the rub of the green this season, with 27 second places, but he had a welcome change of fortune with a double through Project Black and Blazing Son.
Two-year-old Project Black got the day off to a good start for Smart in the opening Visit racingtv.com EBF Novice Stakes, winning by a nose under Harrison Shaw from Eric Alston’s OneforSue, with Karl Burke’s Hobson Point another nose back in third.
“Knowing my luck this season, I thought we’d just missed out again but, thankfully, he’s got there,” said Smart, who trains the Showcasing colt for Bond Thoroughbred Limited.
“He’s still a bit green and was looking at the crowd but this is his ground.
“Hopefully, there’s more to come next season. He’ll be out early when it’s soft and then wait for his ground again in the autumn, but we’ve always liked him and he’s one to look forward to.”
The double came when Blazing Son, well-ridden by three-pound claimer Mark Winn, followed up his recent Redcar second by justifying favouritism to break his maiden at the 13th attempt in the Watch Race Replays At racingtv.com Apprentice Handicap (Division 1).
The trainer said: “He’s been consistent but a bit unlucky and he just loves soft ground. I thought Mark gave him a lovely ride.”
Michael Dods, who trains at Denton, near Darlington, continued his fine run of form when Abruzzo Mia landed the Every Race Live On Racing TV Maiden Stakes with Graham Lee in the saddle.
Despite being a five-year-old, the imposing Bated Breath gelding only made his racecourse debut when he was second at Redcar last month.
Owner-breeder Heather Calzini explained that the horse had suffered a career-threatening injury as a three-year-old.
Mrs Calzini, who also bred the horse’s dam, Serenata Mia, at her stud at Durham, said: “He almost completely severed a tendon, so we had to nurture him back to health in a paddock. It could easily have ended his career so I’m ecstatic to see him win. We had no idea how he’d run on the soft ground but it’s amazing.”
Star jockey James Doyle made the long trip north pay dividends when Awaal, trained at Newmarket by Simon & Ed Crisford, stretched clear to comfortably land the Join Racing TV For The Jumps Season by three and three-quarter lengths from Spirit Catcher, trained by Charlie and Mark Johnston.
Doyle said: "He’s had a few niggles and the ground was a bit quick when he ran at Haydock, but his work's been good at home, so we were quite hopeful today. He probably showed a bit of immaturity, but he travelled sweetly and knuckled down well once he got balanced.”
Orbital Chime, trained by James Horton at Middleham, owned by John and Jess Dance, and ridden by PJ McDonald, got off the mark at the 5th time of asking with an authoritative win in the Market Cross Jewellers Nursery.
Licit was another winner for favourite backers when taking the Watch Racing TV in HD Selling Stakes for Tim Easterby and three-pound claimer Sean Kirrane. There was no bid at the auction.
The eight-race card ended with Jonny Peate and Kapono sweeping through to stamp their authority on the Watch Race Replays At Racingtv.com Apprentice Handicap (Div 2), for North Yorkshire trainer Roger Fell.
