A steady days racing was perhaps overshadowed by the events and news off the track, with the aftermath of the Rosscommon gamble showing no signs of slowing down and the entries for Champions Day having racing fans licking there lips already. But behind all this, there were some noteworthy performances and good action out on the track with two horses for well respected yards featuring.
Kempton (AW):
7 10 BALLET CONCERTO (M Stoute) 7/4, C5 Maiden, 1M, Standard to Slow
Ballet Concerto was a 3L winner of an intriguing 11 runner maiden that was always going to throw up a nice winner. The market had it right and the Sir Michael Stoute trained favourite was comfortably the best horse winning assertively, despite hanging severely in the final stages. It has taken some time to improve and eventually shed his maiden tag, but he has always showed that he had it in him and connections would have always had in the back of their heads much loftier ambitions. The trainer/owner combination have some top horses (Cannock Chase, Across the Stars, Poet’s Word) and at Kempton yesterday, on the eye at least, this horse showed it could get close to these companions.
Pontefract:
3 40 STARS OVER THE SEA (M Johnston) 10/11, C3 H’Cap, 1M4F, Good to Firm
Stars Over The Sea demolished arguably the best field of the day, with a victory that stretched 9L back to third. In typical Mark Johnston fashion, the gelding by Sea The Stars dominated from the front and nothing ever came close to even challenging. Although a bit of a hit and miss horse, the quick ground across tracks recently has seen some good performances, including at Glorious Goodwood when only just over a length behind Fire Fighting. The former hurdler clearly has bags of stamina and extra furlongs would be no issue to this smooth moving galloper. He is entered in races at the weekend, but this could come a bit quick. Yet, you never know with Johnston and under a generous penalty could be one to follow after an easy enough victory yesterday heading into the weekend’s racing.
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