Saturday brought Ladies’ Day, the fashion and social highlight of summer, to Redcar Racecourse with a seven-race card for finery-decked racegoers to enjoy.
Such was the vociferous roar delivered, one could easily have been forgiven for imagining that The Killers smash-hit Mr Brightside was firing up on the PA as Mr Lightside powered clear under Joanna Mason to claim the Free Racing TV at racingtv.com/freetrial Novice Stakes for Rutland-based trainer Mick Appleby.
The juvenile off the mark on just his second start with an always smiling and ever-popular Mason reporting, “Dropping back to five (furlongs) today, he’s shown quite nice early speed, and taken a positive step forward from Leicester where he was just wandering around a bit, possibly not suited by the track. He’s looked all speed there, having been in the stalls long enough. He jumped really well into stride and took me there.”
Malton trainer Ollie Pears is enjoying another fine season, and fresh from winning the valuable Rous Selling Stakes at York last week with Inconspicuous, claimed yet more success when the well regarded Eighteen Fourteen bravely repelled the favourite Qaseem in the opener.
Speaking afterwards, Pears said; “We fancied him first time out at Pontefract, and then the wheels kind of came off second time and we were disappointed. If he’d have shown that three or four weeks ago, we’d have had a think about Royal Ascot. We never really found a reason, but better ground and another month or so has helped. He’s a real nice horse, and he’ll get seven furlongs.”
There was a shock winner of the Woodsmith Construction Straight Mile ‘Confined’ Handicap, with Jumeira Vision (50-1) notching a first turf win on his fifth start for the Galashiels trainer Katie Scott. A representative of Scott unable to offer an explanation when questioned by the stewards about the improved form shown. The four-year-old was carrying the Battenburg silks of Ursa Major Racing Ltd.
Nigel Tinkler, who has saddled a whole host of high-profile winners throughout a distinguished training career, was ebullient after seeing Muker edge out Zarzyni in the feature Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Handicap. Muker was gaining his second C&D win with Tinkler explaining, “He needs a true gallop, last time (at Doncaster) it wasn’t fast enough for him. Alex Jary gave him a great ride; he needs a real strong gallop and the front two provided that. That was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I didn’t know that Redcar had a Ladies’ Day but I’m enjoying it!”
Grant Tuer’s Jesmond Dawn justified favouritism in the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap, rallying determinedly after receiving an accidental flick on the nose from the whip of Duran Fentiman (rider of the runner-up Soul Singer). This was the three-year-old’s first win on just his seventh start, favoured by dropping back in trip to six furlongs. His owners, The Weighting Game, also enjoying success over at Haydock later in the evening with Empire Of Light.
First-time cheekpieces suited We Never Stop, in the Racing TV Free Trial Handicap, continuing a stellar week for the Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan. Ryan had witnessed Inisherin bag the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot a mere 24-hours earlier. Meanwhile, the admirable nine-year-old grey, Red Force One, took Redcar’s concluding Apprentices’ Handicap for Phil Kirby, The Yorkshire Puddings, and Connor Planas.
Away from the track, the Betty Leigh Boutique Fashion Show preceded the keenly contested Best Dressed Lady & Best Hat Competitions. Many congratulations to the fabulously attired Faye Canwell and Emma Syston, who were adjudged the winners of those respective awards.
The next racing at Redcar is the Circus Family Fun Day on Sunday 21st July. This fixture will be the third day of the ‘Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival’ and there will be plenty of free fun for the family, including circus skills in the big top, bouncy castles, and a face-painter. Tickets are available at:
www.redcarracing.co.uk/fixtures/sunday-21st-july-2024-circus-family-fun-day/