Ballyboker Breeze ended his career on a high note after taking the Members Race at Maisemore Park for the third time after which co-owners Jo Priest and Phil Rees confirmed his retirement...
“Described as a horse of a lifetime”, the winner has never been beaten at this venue and has never been out of the first two in 10 runs since joining his current yard.
His relentless gallop and exemplary jumping have carried him to many victories so it was surprising that Grace Knowles mount Stacks Mountain started favourite, but this resulted in Ballyboker Breeze starting at more generous odds than might have been expected.
Stacks Mountain was an early casualty with the favourite taking off too soon at the third, pecking on landing and with that obstacle removed Zac Baker was quick to take advantage of the situation.
Findlays Find and Patsy Page did their best to ensure the leader did not have it all his own way, while Ellipsism was never jumping with enough fluency to trouble the leader and was 4-lengths behind at the finish.
Jump racing has the habit of providing surprises and this was the case in both the Goffs UK Maiden for 4 and 5-year-olds and the 6-year-old and upwards Maiden over 3-miles. Springtown Sal was a very lucky winner of the Goffs sponsored race because she was booked for second place after Doyen Quest took her measure approaching the last. He had the race at his mercy before Luke Scott encountered tack problems as they started off up the run in which left a bemused jockey wondering what had happened.
The favourite had been prominent for much of the 2-1/2 mile journey but faced challenges from Turbo Dave and Ben Bromley halfway down the back straight, with My Virtue, Just for Fame and Doyen Quest all still in contention.
Tom Weston’s 4-year-old’s jumping had left something to be desired during the first half of the contest but it got better as the race progressed and Scott mount began to improve coming around the final bend.
There was little between Springtown Sale and Doyen Quest at the penultimate but the latter sprinted into the lead approaching the last and a perfect jump looked to have sealed victory, but cheers of victory by the leaders’ supporters were replaced by cries of disappointment as Scott lay on the ground. Springtown Sal coasted home to claim a hollow victory that helped boost Gibb’s chances in the Title Race.
The final obstacle also provided excitement in the 6-year-old and upwards Maiden. Airdrigh and James King set the pace in this contest but were kept company by Over the Bridge until the latter departed at the 11th. Airdrigh continued to lead before starting to weaken approaching the third from home, where Flying Colum and Tommie O’Brien swept past, closely pursued by Ben Bromley and No Authority.
Robert Hawker produced Gentle Frank to join the leader at the second from home, but Flying Colum was getting on top approaching the last, and was left well clear when Gentle Frank ran past the final obstacle.
The winner is another in the long list of horses sourced by Martin Oliver to carry the colours of Julia Oakey, with Oliver explaining the winner was out of an un-raced half-sister to Gold Cup winner Synchronised. “He has benefitted from cheekpieces, but is still immature and will only get better”.
A 3lb penalty was not enough to stop Azzuri spreadeagling the field in the Oriental Club Owner-Trainer Conditions under a very positive ride by Heidi Pallin.
Taking the lead at the second the 10-year-old skipped over each fence and were soon well clear. Thomas Murray and Gabrial the Great were the only ones able to keep in touch and did manage to reduce the deficit at the 12th, but Azzuri kept up the pressure and reasserted his superiority approaching three out and were 15-lengths clear passing the judge, while Gabrial the Great lost second spot to Killaro Boy in the final strides.
The winner is owned by Nick and Ella Pearce, along with a couple of other horses provides race riding opportunities for staff based with Nick Skelton. Their careers have been rejuvenated by competing at this lower level, and it was good to see the Champion Jockey offering advice to Novice Riders immediately after the race.
Georgina Nicholls and her daughter Olive landed a double when Rhythm is a Dancer out speeded Fifty Shades to land the Dairy Partners Mens Open. The former set out to make all the running but was challenged by the favourite in the home straight but always had his measure and was actually extending his advantage at the finish.
There were some interesting newcomers on show in the 2-mile Flat Race but the bookies got it right by installing the Nicholls trained Patanita as a short price favourite. Many of the runners were left struggling as Diamond Tiki and Shee’s a Stella dictated the pace down the back straight, while Mactavish occupied a prominent position before Peter Bryan produced Pattani with a well-timed turning for home.
Diamond Tiki still held the lead approaching the last, but Patanita was getting into full stride and drew clear bypassing the last to score an impressive win.
Earlier in the afternoon Diamond Tiki’s trainer Fran Poste had saddled Fan Club Aulmes who took the Veteran and Novice Riders race under Amber Jackson-Fennell who got the better of Daniel Ellis and Sideways who finished strongly but could not reel in the leader in the final strides.