| Course: EPSOM | Race date:07/06/08 | Race time:1:40 | Runners:12 |
| Race distance:1m2f | Going:Good | Winners time:2m 6.37s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conduit | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | 6 | 8-6 | 3 | 104 | 85 | 11/8F | 1.59 | 1.39 | 1.33 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Ramona Chase | Richard Hughes | S Kirk | 1 | 9-2 | 3 | 102 | 95 | 8/1 | 3.85 | 3.2 | 2.54 | 1.2 | 2 | 6 |
| First Avenue | William Buick | M A Jarvis | 5 | 8-3 | 3 | 88 | 82 | 17/2 | 3.7 | 3.03 | 2.6 | 1.12 | 3 | nk |
| Siberian Tiger | Darryll Holland | M R Channon | 12 | 9-5 | 3 | 103 | 98 | 33/1 | 14 | 8.92 | 3.75 | 1.03 | 4 | nk |
| Rochefort | Kerrin McEvoy | J H M Gosden | 3 | 8-7 | 3 | 81 | 86 | 14/1 | 6.6 | 4.69 | 2.64 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Midships | Jim Crowley | Mrs A J Perrett | 11 | 9-3 | 3 | 85 | 96 | 13/2 | 3.1 | 2.45 | 2.12 | 1.51 | 6 | 3 |
| Special Reserve | T P O´Shea | R Hannon | 4 | 8-4 | 3 | 67 | 83 | 20/1 | 8.8 | 5.48 | 4.7 | 3 | 7 | 2¾ |
| Cobo Bay | N Callan | K A Ryan | 9 | 9-7 | 3 | 82 | 100 | 16/1 | 6 | 5.17 | 2.62 | 4 | 8 | ¾ |
| Solent Ridge | M J Kinane | J S Moore | 8 | 8-13 | 3 | 73 | 92 | 66/1 | 24 | 15.2 | 10.5 | 15 | 9 | ½ |
| Miss Bootylishes | Kevin Ghunowa | A B Haynes | 2 | 8-4 | 3 | 62 | 86 | 50/1 | 32 | 20 | 11.5 | 20 | 10 | 2¾ |
| Fitzroy Crossing | Greg Fairley | M Johnston | 7 | 8-8 | 3 | 54 | 87 | 50/1 | 27 | 17.13 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 4½ |
| Tajweed | R Hills | M Johnston | 10 | 8-5 | 3 | 46 | 84 | 13/2 | 2.82 | 2.45 | 1.85 | 2.04 | 12 | 2½ |
Conduit held up in last, still last and plenty to do over 3f out, headway 3f out, strong run on outside from over 2f out, edged left but led inside final furlong, stormed clear, impressive
Ramona Chase held up in midfield, ridden and effort 3f out, hung left under pressure from well over 1f out, kept on to go 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
First Avenue in touch, ridden and headway over 3f out, chased clear leader briefly and edged left well over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd near finish
Siberian Tiger slowly into stride, soon pushed along and in touch, headway to lead over 5f out, shaken up and clear over 3f out, headed inside final furlong, immediately beaten, lost 2 places near finish
Rochefort held up towards rear, ridden and effort over 2f out, hanging left over 1f out, never troubled leaders
Midships with leader until over 5f out, disputed 2nd and ridden 3f out, hanging left after, weakened over 1f out
Special Reserve tracked leaders on inner, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, well behind last 2f
Cobo Bay led until over 5f out, chased clear leader after, ridden 3f out, no impression, weakened over 1f out
Solent Ridge took keen hold, in touch early, steadied and held up in rear after 1f, ridden and effort over 3f out, never troubled leaders
Miss Bootylishes held up in rear, never dangerous
Fitzroy Crossing took keen hold, held up in midfield, ridden over 3f out, soon struggling, tailed off
Tajweed took keen hold, chased leaders early until steadied and held up in midfield after 2f, ridden and struggling over 3f out, no chance after, tailed off
This is invariably one of the key three-year-old handicaps of the first half of the season, and this latest running will be no exception. Indeed CONDUIT, who came from last to first to win in hugely impressive fashion, could be one of the best winners in recent years, even though he was racing from a mark of only 84, which is lower than all bar one of the previous ten winners.
An unlucky third behind a useful stablemate at Sandown on his reappearance, he had been kept for this ever since and was ridden confidently from the back of the field. As they crossed thepath over three furlongs out he was still in last and around 12 lengths off the clear leader Siberian Tiger, but he was beginning an irresistible run up the wide outside which saw him get to the leader inside the final furlong and then storm six lengths clear despite edging left, and without resort to the whip. He looked the archetypal 'Group horse in a handicap' and his days in this sort of company are surely numbered. Stage Gift, his stable's last winner of this race in 2006, is now a multiple Group winner.
Ramona Chase brought solid form from similar races to the event, and he ran another big race, staying on from mid-division, despite edging left down the camber, and snatching second close home. He deserves a change of luck.
Siberian Tiger, who was close-up in a Listed race last time, was soon up there from his outside draw, and having gone to the front approaching halfway he was kicked well clear rounding the turn. He must have gone a good five or even six lengths up on his nearest pursuers, and although it was clear some way out that the classy winner was going to get to him it was only close to the finish that he lost second place. A bold effort under an enterprising ground. He could be aimed at the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The first four were a long way clear of handicap debutant Rochefort, who was inclined to edge left up the straight but made a respectable reappearance off a stiff enough mark.
The rest were beaten 14 lengths or more. They were headed by Midships, who wasup there from the start and still disputing second two furlongs out, but could not keep it up and was edging left down the camber, and Special Reserve, who was also prominent early but had no easy task on his handicap debut.
Cobo Bay was nevergoing to have it easy up front and the drying ground was against him too. His stamina remains unproven.
Tajweed looked to have plenty going for him, but he was keen early on and then dropped right away to finish tailed off.
Richard Hills reported Tajweed suffered interference.
Kerrin McEvoy reported Rochefort hung left. (GD)
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