De Sousa anticipates big things from Statutory

The three-year-old put up an admirable staying performance in the Phil Bull Trophy Conditions Stakes and has all the hallmarks of a typical Mark Johnston horse that will improve with age.

Statutory only made his racecourse debut on this track in July, but has been kept busy since and was having his ninth start after finishing second to John Gosden’s Caucus in a two-mile Listed race at Newmarket.

However, he looked fresh as he ran his rivals ragged with an all-the-way win in this two-and-a-quarter mile stamina test.

Mutual Regard put in a brief bid but was swept aside as the 4-9 shot turned the four-runner race into a procession, winning by 14 lengths.

“He put the race to bed in the last mile. He travelled well and was the class horse in the race,” said De Sousa, who came to prominence at Johnston’s Middleham stables before 
becoming one of Godolphin’s retained riders.

“I’d love to ride him again. I think he’s one of the horses for the future. He’s a lovely horse and could go anywhere.

“It was the first time I’d ridden the horse. He’s got a lot of scope and the older he gets the better he will be. You could think about going for the Gold Cup next year.”

Dullingham, Party Royal, Statutory and Aglaophonos at Pontefract also won under de Sousa.

Meanwhile Pontefract, Beverley and Ludlow have been announced as the latest racecourses to sign prize money agreements with the Horsemen’s Group and British Horseracing Authority.

The system, unveiled just over a week ago, ties racecourses into committing a proportion of their income to prize money pots

The terms of the contract are structured to enable all courses to sign the same agreement, with each course choosing either the premier or standard tier option.

Pontefract has become the first small independent track to sign the more demanding premier option.

Norman Gundill, managing director at the West Yorkshire track, said: “I have always believed in co-operation between all the constituent parts of the racing industry and am very happy we have concluded an agreement.

“I have constantly worked to improve the racing programme and prize money and will continue to do so.”

Popular chaser Grey Abbey has passed away at the age of 19.

The gelding was highly popular with his front-running and bold-jumping style, winning nine times for trainer Barry Murtagh before joining Howard Johnson.

Grey Abbey went on to win the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster and the Scottish Grand National in early 2004, while the following season he won the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, the Pillar Chase at Cheltenham and the Betfair Bowl at Aintree.

The winner of 15 races in total, he also finished fifth behind Kicking King in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, with his most recent successes coming under Bedale jockey Graham Lee. Grey Abbey was retired at the end of 2005.

North Yorkshire jockey Phillip Makin is set to miss the rest of the Flat campaign after breaking his arm when riding out for Middleham trainer Ben Haslam yesterday morning.

The injury requires surgery. “He stuck his arm out in the fall. He’s already had it straightened as it was quite badly mangled and the wrong way,” said Makin’s agent Richard Hale. “Obviously he’s out for the rest of the season.”