Barefoot Lady to chase double after Stakes win

RICHARD Fahey’s Yorkshire raider Barefoot Lady will bid for a memorable Canadian double after landing Sunday’s Grade Two Canadian Stakes at Woodbine.

The consistent four-year-old filly scooped the biggest success of her career under Davy Moran, a late replacement for Jamie Spencer.

The 2011 Nell Gwyn Stakes winner was due to be ridden by Spencer but Moran stepped in to deputise when connections realised their filly was only set to carry 8st 1lb and not 8st 5lb as previously thought.

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Malton trainer Fahey admitted matters became a “little bit complicated” regarding his filly’s racing weight but there was no denying the Yorkshireman’s delight at the four-year-old’s success – the fifth of her consistent career.

Fahey also revealed that a repeat Canadian bid is now in order in the Grade One EP Taylor Stakes on Sunday, October 14.

“It was a little bit complicated,” admitted Fahey. “We thought we had 8st 5lb and Jamie went to the scales and found we had 8st 1lb.

“Fair-dos to Jamie, he got it organised and got a replacement rider for us, so we thank him for that.

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“Barefoot Lady is very tough and a pleasure to have in the place. She’s had a busy life but she makes me make her busy. She comes out of her racing bouncing and just wants to do more. It was great to see her win.

“She was getting a few allowances this year so it was a good race for her to run in.”

Few could begrudge Barefoot Lady’s Canadian success with the Fahey inmate having proved a model of consistency while not always getting her head in front during a highly-tried career.

“She’s been in every tough fight there has been and held her own in some of them,” said Fahey.

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Sizing up the next Canadian target, Fahey added: “She goes for the EP Taylor again at Woodbine now and I just caught wind of this race there a month ago.

“Hopefully that (win) should have booked her ticket to stay there and run in it now.”

Meanwhile, plans remain fluid regarding targets for Khalid Abdullah’s two promising juveniles Ashdan and Dundonnell after their runs at Doncaster.

The John Gosden-trained Ashdan showed a likeable attitude to win a conditions race taken by Frankel two years ago, while Roger Charlton’s Dundonnell went down narrowly to Toronado in the Champagne Stakes.

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Both colts hold entries in the Dewhurst, the Royal Lodge and the Racing Post Trophy, and the owner’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, has not ruled out running both in the same race if that is what is best for both horses.

“No decision has been made yet regarding future plans for either horse,” said Grimthorpe.

“We’ll see how they are and how they come out of their races and try to do the best for each horse.

“Ashdan looked pretty effective over seven furlongs the other day so even though there’s plenty of stamina in his pedigree you wouldn’t have a worry about keeping him at seven furlongs.

“We wouldn’t be reading that much into his pedigree yet.

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“I don’t think Dundonnell had any excuses really. We wouldn’t have any qualms about running them in the same race but we’ll do whatever is best for each individual horse.”

Among Saturday’s Doncaster disappointments was St Leger joint-second favourite Main Sequence who looks like being put away for the season following his tame effort in the Town Moor Classic.

The David Lanigan-trained colt could only finish fifth behind Encke after being slowly away in the final Classic of the season.

“He came out of the race fine. He was a bit slow out of the stalls which put paid to his chances, but he ran his race,” said Lanigan.

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“That will probably be it for the year. He stays in training as a four-year-old.”

Lanigan has also revealed that Biographer will not take his chance in the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket on October 13.

“He won’t go for the Cesarewitch. We’re going to keep him at around a mile and a half and a mile and six,” said the Lambourn handler.

“There are other options for him.

“There’s a Listed race at the end of the month at Ascot and a couple of handicaps. We’ll just see how he is and go from there.”

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Toronado – Dundonnell’s conqeror on Saturday -– is likely to wind up his juvenile campaign back at Doncaster in the Racing Post Trophy.

Connections of the Richard Hannon-trained colt look like opting for the Town Moor feature on October 27 rather than going for the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp earlier in the month.

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