03 June 2020

Trial victor Tango stars in Probert treble

03 June 2020

Berlin Tango highlighted a treble for jockey David Probert as he lifted the Unibet Classic Trial at Kempton.

Sent off a 7-1 chance, the Andrew Balding-trained runner travelled well through the 10-furlong contest before Probert pushed him to lead in the straight.

Pyledriver emerged from the pack to chase him home, beaten a length and a quarter, with Bright Melody back in third.

Favourite Hypothetical was fourth while the well-fancied Born With Pride was only seventh.

Balding said: “He had a couple of good runs last year in Listed races but was still a bit raw, he’s a nice stamp of horse.

“(David) seemed to think he will stay further, but there’s so many options as it’s an unusual year and we’ll have to discuss it with Mr (George) Strawbridge (owner) and give him all the options and ultimately let him make the decision.

“Depending how the other trials work out, I wouldn’t rule it (the Derby) out.”

Balding and Probert were completing a double kickstarted by Never Dark (2-1 favourite), who made every yard for victory in the opening Unibet Thanks The Frontline Workers Handicap, while the rider also took the closing Unibet Handicap on Sepahi (9-1).

The Listed EBF/Unibet Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes was claimed by the fast-finishing Nazeef, with John Gosden’s runner proving three-quarters of a length too good for Group One winner Billesdon Brook.

Gosden’s son Thady said: “We will see how she is after the race and we could possibly look at Royal Ascot with her, but it’s entirely up to Sheikh Hamdan (al Maktoum, owner).

“I’m sure he’ll decide what he wants to do, but possibly a tilt at something like the Duke of Cambridge (Stakes).”

Tom Marquand may have suffered disappointment aboard Born With Pride in the Classic Trial, but 66-1 shot Shatha ensured he did not leave Kempton without a winner.

Trained by Charlie Hills, Shatha earned a 33-1 quote for next month’s Investec Oaks as she outbattled Lightness to claim a short-head victory in the Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day “Confined” Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Marquand said: “It was very good, it probably wasn’t the winner I thought was going to happen initially looking at my rides.

“She is relatively green, but she is a nice, big filly and she is going to do well going forward after that.”

Nicola Currie steered home her first winner since the resumption of racing as the George Baker-trained Hieronymus (10-1) prevailed by four and a quarter lengths in the Unibet Casino Deposit £10 Get £40 Bonus Handicap.

She said: “I’ve been just waiting to see where that first winner is going to come from, but luckily that is out the way and what a fantastic job everyone has done to get us all back and racing under way.

“We were all moaning about them (facemasks) slightly with the breathing yesterday, but it has been a bit easier today and being that bit colder helps.

“We’re just getting into the routine of it and it won’t take long. We all kind of know what we’re doing now and where we have to be, so it is nice to be back and it is not too abnormal. We can work around the situation.”

Dougie Costello renewed his partnership with Roller in the Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap, with the pair coming home three-length winners.

Costello said: “He won in November at Wolverhampton, again (it was the) same type of race, he dropped in and came late and it worked out for him.

“Daniel (Mark Loughnane, trainer) said he was well and fresh and that is the key. Everything has to fall right, he has to be well and fresh and the pace has to be an even pace.”

Chris Wall got his first winner on the board as Han Solo Berger swooped late in the Unibet Money Back Free Bet If Second Handicap, while Andrea Atzeni and Gary Moore combined to win the Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap with 13-8 favourite Gossiping.

Atzeni said: “He travelled well into the race. He moved up quite nicely and won closely, so hopefully there is more to come.”

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