Racing returned to the Rowley Mile on Saturday 18th September with the first fixture of The Newmarket Gold Season – Cesarewitch Trial Day.
It is a significant weekend for the town, with the Henry Cecil Weekend Open Weekend continuing on Sunday 19th September.
There was an Irish success in the feature Close Brothers Cesarewitch Trial courtesy of Turnpike Trip.
We sent Graham Clark along to speak to the winners on the day….
TURNPIKE TRIP GIVES EGAN REASON TO SMILE AFTER BOUNCING BACK TO WINNING WAYS IN CESAREWITCH TRIAL
John Egan admitted he would “love to get the ride” on Turnpike Trip again after the seven year old ended a near two-year spell without a victory when putting his assured stamina to good use in the Close Brothers Cesarewitch Trial.
Without a win to his name since landing a Grade Three novice hurdle at Tipperary in October 2019, the Charles Byrnes-trained Champs Elysees gelding addressed that statistic when giving Egan his first Rowley Mile winner in 728 days in the feature prize.
Travelling well early on the 15-8 favourite moved into contention inside the final three furlongs of the two and a quarter mile test, where he was swiftly followed by eventual runner up Live Your Dream, to move on pass long-time leader Ernesto.
Pressing on with Live Your Dream, Turnpike Trip made the most of the 22lbs in weight he was receiving off the Saeed bin Suroor-trained runner to get the better of a late duel between to two and score by two lengths.
Egan said: “He stays well. It is a pity he is not in the Cesarewitch. I scanned the field and I had a fair idea of where I was. I was grand early on.
“Cieren (Fallon on Cleonte) lit me up as he pulled out but I don’t know what he was doing. He gave me a good ride and he won easily. I’d love to get the ride on him again.
“Charles said he will stay and sit handy but I’m not going to tell you how to ride there. He gave me a little vision of the horse and he said don’t forget you have only got eight stone two so don’t be afraid to kick early.
“I kicked early just to take it out of them. He found a bit more when the runner up came to me. I probably punctured him kicking earlier as he had so much weight. I emptied him.”
TANTZY REPEAT
History repeated itself as Madame Tantzy rallied in tenacious fashion after being headed to secure back-to-back victories in the Close Brothers Premium Finance Fillies’ Handicap.
After making a timely return to form at Goodwood on her previous start, the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained five year old, returned at 3-1, followed that victory up with a battling display to register successive wins in the mile prize.
Although passed by eventual runner-up, and 13-8 favourite Mobadra inside the final quarter of a mile the Champs Elysees mare battled back close to the line under Georgie Dobie to score by a length.
Dobie said: “I’ve done alright for this family as I’ve won on all three that they have in training at the moment.
“We weren’t going quick early and the boss said just let her find her rhythm and I’ve ended making the running but it suited her. She has got headed but she has battled back. She is very game.
“I think the stiff finish here suits her and she needs every bit of that trip. She has been fresh and well at home and she was coming here with a good chance.
“It was good to get the job done.”
SPRINGS AT HOME ON ROWLEY MILE
The old adage of horses for courses is fast starting to apply to Equiano Springs, who made it three wins from as many visits to the Rowley Mile when defeating Spring Bloom by three quarters of a length in the six-furlong Close Brothers Handicap.
Tom Tate, winning trainer said of the 11-2 winner: “That’s his third win here as he won this race two years ago and it is the third time Tom (Queally) has won on him so he knows the horse well.
“We’ve had quite a job with him and we try and load him in late on the track and try to cool him off at home but that is the 10th race he has won now.
“The Rowley Mile has always been a lucky track to me as we have won the Cambridgeshire here and all sorts of other races.”
Former trainer Ken Ivory was given a timely boost after Sadiqaa, who he owns with Ian Higginson under the Amigos Partnership banner, prevailed by a neck in an entertaining finish to the Close Brothers Asset Finance Handicap over seven furlongs.
Higginson said of the Clive Cox trained 14-1 winner: “It is just me and Ken Ivory who own the horse. He has been feeling a bit poorly of late so this will definitely give him a boost.
“He won his first start very impressively and after that had eight races without winning and Clive said there was something not right.
“He had a wind operation and he came back and finished third at Leicester and he has been freshened up and shown what he can do today.”
SMITH GAINS COMPENSATION IN AMATEURS’ CAMBRIDGESHIRE
There was no wiping the smile off the face of jockey Sophie Smith who went two places better aboard Global Art than two years ago in the Close Brothers Invoice Finance Amateur Jockeys’ Cambridgeshire.
After being on the wrong end of a stewards’ enquiry when demoted from first aboard Zlatan at Goodwood at the end of last month, the 20 year gained compensation when steering Ed Dunlop trained gelding to victory by a length in the nine-furlong contest.
Smith said of the 20-1 winner: “I was third on this horse in 2019. This is an especially nice win as I was involved in that stewards’ inquiry when I was demoted which was quite big news so it is nice to get redemption.
“He was a bit slow away and they went really quick. I was off the bridle the whole way but the blinkers came back on today and they really worked.
“I’m so grateful to Mr Dunlop who I worked for in my gap year for putting me back on and I’m glad I’ve repaid him.”
SADIQAA HANDS TONIC TO OWNER IVORY
Former trainer Ken Ivory was given a timely boost after Sadiqaa, who he owns with Ian Higginson under the Amigos Partnership banner, prevailed by a neck in an entertaining finish to the Close Brothers Asset Finance Handicap over seven furlongs.
Higginson said of the Clive Cox trained 14-1 winner: “It is just me and Ken Ivory who own the horse. He has been feeling a bit poorly of late so this will definitely give him a boost.
“He won his first start very impressively and after that had eight races without winning and Clive said there was something not right.
“He had a wind operation and he came back and finished third at Leicester and he has been freshened up and shown what he can do today.”
