Racing: Richard Fahey's decision to let Utmost Respect take his chance in the Duke of York Blue Square Stakes paid dividends as he swooped late and fast for Group Two glory at York. Fahey had been concerned about the quick ground but he let the five-year-old tackle the six-furlong heat after checking conditions.
Paul Hanagan was hard at work over two furlongs out aboard Utmost Respect, but the 16-1 shot kept on well to just get the better of King’s Apostle and Tax Free by three-quarters of a length and a neck.
Fahey has been the leading trainer at York for the past three seasons and could not have been more delighted to strike again at his local track.
He said: “We just got away with it. I was in two minds about running him because of the quick ground. He definitely prefers some cut and although he was travelling better than anything, I thought that when Paul went for him the ground would take over but he handled it well.
“He will be in all the Group One races and I hope he gets the ground he wants and is able to show how good he is.
“He is in everything at Royal Ascot and later on, the Haydock sprint will be a target. The ground was right for him there last season but the meeting was abandoned, so the race was transferred to Doncaster and the going went against him.”
Hanagan was no less delighted with the outcome, although he did pick up a two-day ban (May 27th and 28th) for using his whip with excessive frequency.
He added: “That was great, it is fantastic to win a race like this at your local course. He did a really good piece of work at Malton three or four days ago, it put him spot on but you won’t see the best of him until he gets some soft ground.”
Little went right for Fratellino (14-1) when he finished unplaced at Chester last week but making a quick reappearance in the Blue Square EBF Novices Stakes, he gained a decisive success in the hands of Robert Winston.
Winning handler Alan McCabe said: “On his last run but one, he did not get a very positive ride but that was not the jockey’s fault and at Chester everywhere he went he got hampered.
“He deserves a chance at a decent race now and the Molecomb at Goodwood could be a nice one for him and maybe he could go to Royal Ascot in between.”
William Buick is riding at the top of his form and he completed a double on Andrew Balding’s Brief Encounter and the James Fanshawe-trained Spring Jim.
Brief Encounter (5-1) did not have a lot to spare in the Blue Square Stakes but he just prevailed by a neck over Hartley and Photographic, who dead heated for second.
Spring Jim (10-1) is now an eight-year-old but he shrugged off his advancing years for a half-length victory in the Blue Square SP Guarantee Stakes.
Godolphin won the Blue Square Casino Stakes for the third year in a row, this time courtesy of Moonquake (8-1) in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
“He’s a lovely, big horse and I had a lovely box-seat,” said the winning rider. “He kept on very well for me.”
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor: added: “He’s very tough and adaptable and 10
furlongs or a mile and a half is fine for him.
“He’s a nice horse and will improve for the run.”
Dettori was later banned for two days (May 27th and 28th) after being found guilty of careless riding aboard third-placed Raaeidd in the closing Moortown Golf Club Centenary Stakes.
The race went to Sylvester Kirk’s Barwell Bridge (12-1) in the hands of James Doyle, who was enjoying first victory at York.