25 July 2020

Award Scheme follows up for Haggas

25 July 2020

William Haggas’ Award Scheme claimed a second successive win when taking the Sky Bet Britain’s Most Popular Online Bookmaker EBF Stallions Fillies’ Handicap at York.

The three-year-old, owned and bred by the Queen, swept aside six rivals to cruise to an easy five-length success as the 11-8 favourite.

The filly defied an 8lb rise in the weights, following her Ayr handicap win earlier this month, and was up slightly in distance too.

“She’s running over this trip for the first time – she stepped up last time and ran well,” said jockey Danny Tudhope.

“She’s got a nice attitude. She stayed the trip well and obviously she’s improving.”

The victory was the second leg of a quick double for Tudhope, who also struck with David O’Meara’s Prompting.

Another winning for the second time in succession, Prompting landed the Sky Bet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap by two and a quarter lengths, to stay unbeaten for his new stable after leaving the care of Olly Murphy in early July.

“He’s a nice horse,” O’Meara said of his charge, who started as 7-4 favourite.

“We wanted to come here, and we’d be very pleased with that. He’s come on, and I think he’s a horse that goes well over seven furlongs but will be even better at a mile.”

Silvestre De Sousa went one better than Tudhope, with a treble on the card kickstarted by debutant Gear Up in the opening Sky Bet First Race Special Every Saturday Novice Median Auction Stakes for Mark Johnston.

The two-year-old son of Teofilo shook off his handler en route to the pre-parade ring and was loose on the Knavesmire for some time, but those exertions failed to hinder him as he accelerated through a field of 10 to win by a length and a half at 12-1.

“He just needed to find a nice rhythm, and he did that today,” said De Sousa.

“He finished strongly – he did take a couple of taps to get going, but when he reached top gear it was all over.”

De Sousa doubled his tally when Sampers Seven was three lengths too good in the Win £50K Today With ITV7 Handicap, coming home ahead of 9-4 favourite Clareyblue.

“She’s a bit tricky when you ask her to go forwards,” De Sousa said of the Mick Appleby-trained filly.

“She’s won comfortably there. She is one to go on with, and we’re pleased with her.”

The Sky Bet Nursery Handicap brought a third win for De Sousa, and a second for Johnston, as they teamed up again with Julie Johnston – who prevailed by three and a half lengths at a price of 11-2.

Richard Fahey trained both the winner and the runner-up of the Sky Bet Club Handicap, with Hartswood obliging as 5-2 favourite under Paddy Mathers and Tadleel finishing a length and a quarter behind under Barry McHugh.

Division one of the Sky Bet Most Extra Place Races Handicap was claimed by Abate (11-2) for Adrian Nicholls and McHugh – with the second instalment won by Roundhay Park (4-1 favourite) for Royston Ffrench and Nigel Tinkler.

In the closing Download The New Sporting Life App Maiden Auction Fillies’ Stakes, Amor De Mi Vida (4-1) struck for Hollie Doyle and Archie Watson.

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