Astaire dances right into contention

KEVIN Ryan hopes Astaire could be the horse to provide him with an elusive Classic victory in next season’s 2000 Guineas after holding off the late challenge of stablemate Hot Streak to land the Group One Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes.
Mass Rally ridden by PJ McDonald (right) wins the Coral Sprint TrophyMass Rally ridden by PJ McDonald (right) wins the Coral Sprint Trophy
Mass Rally ridden by PJ McDonald (right) wins the Coral Sprint Trophy

Both horses, says Ryan, will not race again this season after this phenomenal one-two at Newmarket for the in-form Hambleton yard in one of Flat racing’s most prestigious races for two-year-old juveniles – the potential Classic winners of the feature.

This dazzling success overshadowed York’s final raceday of 2013 which saw Mass Rally land the feature Coral Sprint Trophy and provide a notable win for local jockey PJ McDonald, who only stepped in for the ride because Boroughbridge jockey Paul Mulrennan is out injured.

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Although York’s total crowd of 333,477 for 2013 was 7,000 down on last year, this can be attributed to the Frankel factor – the world’s greatest racehorse was the star turn in 2012 on the Knavesmire.

However, this summer’s Knavesmire spectators did get an early glimpse of Astaire’s potential when the horse, owned by Barnsley’s Angie and Peter Bailey, won the Gimcrack Stakes at August’s Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

Ironically, the last horse to complete the Gimcrack and Middle Park double in the same season was the Ryan-trained Amadeus Wolf in 2005. He could only finish seventh to Aidan O’Brien’s brilliant, but subsequently-ill-fated George Washington in the Guineas.

Like Amadeus Wolf, Astaire was ridden dynamically by Ryan’s close friend, Neil Callan, who is in a rich vein of form after going freelance at the start of the year.

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Callan, always prominent, made his decisive move with two furlongs left to steal a couple of lengths.

The 2-1 favourite Great White Eagle, from the aforementioned O’Brien yard, never made any impression and finished eighth as Hot Streak – victorious seven days previously at Ascot – rallied late under Jamie Spencer .

“He seems very tough and genuine. I’ve not sat on him since the Gimcrack and I said to his lad he’d grown and was a stronger horse. All credit to Kevin,” said Callan.

“He jumped and travelled good and all he was doing was looking at the camera and that’s why he drifted. Each run, he’s become more relaxed.”

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The Middle Park has not provided a 2000 Guineas winner since Rodrigo de Triano in 1992 and betting reaction was certainly muted with Astaire cut to 33-1 from 50s.

Astaire, Ryan told the Yorkshire Post, will step up in trip to seven furlongs next Spring to see if he can stay the Guineas trip of a mile while Hot Streak will contest many of Britain’s top sprints.

“Both horses are fine, and it is a shame one of them had to be beat. They train in different groups so I had no idea beforehand,” he added. “It’s fantastic for the team and great to have such nice horses. The Group Ones are brilliant but I’d love to win a Guineas – you’re in this for the Classics.

“Hot Streak is all speed while Astaire is quite relaxed; it will be interesting to see how he develops over the winter.”

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On a day that saw the O’Brien-trained War Command confirm his Guineas credentials with a workmanlike win in the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs, ride of the day honours went to Silvestre de Sousa, who came from last to first on 66-1 outsider Scatter Dice to win the Betfred Cesarewitch.

The Mark Johnston-trained filly was so slowly out of the stalls that she had to make up at least 10 lengths to take the ultra-competitive marathon handicap. It is likely to be Scatter Dice’s last run – Middleham-based Johnston indicated that she will be retired.

Former Scottish National winning rider PJ McDonald – now attached to Ann Duffield’s North Yorkshire yard – credited injured rider Paul Mulrennan for Mass Rally’s win at York.

Dropped out in last place early on, McDonald brought his mount with a sweeping run round the outside of the whole field to win going away by a length-and-a-half.

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McDonald said: “That was some thrill. Paul was an absolute superstar, the only negative about this is that he’s not riding it. He told me how to ride him to the letter and it worked out perfect. This is my biggest win of the year.”

The horse, trained by Darlington-based Michael Dods, could reappear on Ascot’s Qipco Champions Day this weekend. He said: “What he needs is a fast pace he can come off. I was worried about the draw but told PJ to just drop him in. It’s a shame Paul wasn’t here as it’s his ride, but I use PJ a bit so I like to stick with who I know.”

Champion jockey contender Ryan Moore ended as York’s top rider for 2013 while Nawton-based David O’Meara ended Richard Fahey’s seven-year domination of the trainers’ title.

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