Newmarket Friday review: Kikkuli encouraging second on debut
Haggas hails 'real star' Hamish
Maureen Haggas knows better than most just what a tricky character Hamish can be, however she described the talented gelding as a ‘real star’ after securing the seventh Group race success of his career in the re-arranged Betfred St Simon Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.
The William Haggas-trained son of Motivator came in for plenty of praise after continuing what has been arguably the greatest season of his career at the age of seven when making it four wins from as many outings this season in the Group Three which was re-routed from Newbury last Saturday.
Sent off the 5-4 favourite, Hamish, who has been ridden out on a regular basis by Maureen since he was a three year old, demonstrated what a solid yard stick he is when revelling in the testing conditions much to the delight of his supporters.
Cruising powerfully into contention alongside King Of Conquest the multiple Group race scorer, who is owned by the trainer’s father Brian, showed his appetite for a battle when the chips were down entering the closing stages of the mile and a half test.
Despite being burdened with a three pounds penalty it failed to stop Hamish from galloping on with great endeavour to defeat the hat-trick seeking Al Qareem by a length and three quarters to form the middle leg of a treble on the card for the triumphant Newmarket handler.
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Haggas said: “He has had a good year, and he has been great. It is never easy when you have a horse that needs that slow ground. He has had his problems so we have to look after him and I think he has lasted that long because we look after him. He was very naughty at Goodwood, and he can be quite difficult, but we saddled him in the stables and it has all gone like clockwork so I’m relieved.
“He got really naughty as a three-year-old and he wouldn’t go anywhere so I started riding him and I’ve ridden him ever since. I ride him every day and I know him back to front, but he hates Newbury so I wasn’t too displeased with the race not being down there and being here instead. He is just very argumentative, and you could spend all day arguing with him.
“As long as he goes out, does his work every day, and comes back I just try and leave him alone, but he has always been like that, but I suppose that is the Montjeu in him. He was a bit heavy today as it is that time of year where you don’t want to over do them. Usually at this time of the year he looks like a hat rack, but he is fat, but he has gone and done it. I love him to bits, but he barely tolerates me. He is a great horse and I’m thrilled for William’s father (Brian) who bred him. He is just a real star. It is nice when you have had them for so long as he is like a pet.”
While Classic winning handler Haggas will take the plaudits for the victory connections felt that a big part of the victory was down to the presence of the stable hack Cape Classic, who is known in the yard as Chunky.
Maureen added; “I wasn’t actually that enamoured with the thought of coming here today but we brought Chunky the pony (Cape Classic) with him and he has been brilliant. Chunky has been the hack for quite a few years now, but Hamish, for some reason, loves him. I don’t know why but every morning he sees him he attaches himself to him. I thought we would give it a try bringing him (Chunky) with him and it has worked. We have now got options with him as we can maybe take Chunky with us and he might behave himself better.”
Despite Hamish turning eight at the turn of the year he is expected to be seen back on a racetrack in 2024.
Maureen said: “I hope we see him back next year. As long as he stays in one piece he has got nothing else to do except be a racehorse, then he is going to have to be my hack, so I think he would rather be a racehorse for a while.”
The Reverend (9/2) and Cieren Fallon got the ball rolling for Haggas with a length and three quarters victory in division two of the Betfred “Double Delight” British EBF Novice Stakes, before Laafi (20/1) completed his treble, and gave Fallon a second winner on the card, when landing the Betfred “Hat Trick Heaven” Handicap by two and three quarter lengths.
Romantic strikes for Godolphin
Charlie Appleby continued what has been a solid end to the 2023 Flat campaign for his juvenile team after Romantic Style took a step up in class in her stride when running out the winner of the Irish EBF “Bosra Sham” Fillies’ Stakes.
In what has been a year of mixed emotions for Appleby the daughter of Night Of Thunder added her name to a growing list of two year olds that have helped the Newmarket based Godolphin handler finish the campaign with a flourish after securing victory in the Listed prize.
After getting off the mark at Yarmouth last time out having finished seventh on her debut at Newbury the 3/1 joint favourite moved smartly into contention under Danny Tudhope to throw down her challenged approaching the final quarter of a mile of the six furlong test.
Moving into a clear lead inside the final furlong Romantic Style continued to plough through the testing conditions to defeat runner-up, and proven soft ground performer, Adaay In Devon by a length and three quarters with Navassa Island a further two and a quarter lengths adrift in third.
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Alex Merriam, assistant trainer, said: “She did it nicely. She travelled into it very well and I thought she did it quite easily. She has got lots of speed. She got a little bit tired at the end, but she was entitled to, as that ground was hard work. It was nice to see her step up on her last run. I think the ground was a question mark for most horses, unless they are properly proven on it. She handled it, although I don’t think it is ground she wants. She will be better on better ground I would have thought.
“The way she has travelled into it I think she has got plenty of speed about her and Danny was very pleased with her. I think after her last run she was entitled to have a go at a bit of black type and she has got that now. We will put her away and see what we have got next year.”
Although Paddy Power introduced Romantic Style at 25/1 for next year’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas connections felt that a sprinting campaign in 2024 is much more likely at this stage.
Merriam added: “I think six furlongs is her trip for the time being. She is a bonny little thing that is straightforward, and she just goes through the motions at home.
That was only her third run so she is entitled to improve. She has won that now and she is one to look forward to next year.”
Zoum Zoum too good for Frankel's half-brother
Kikkuli, the Kingman half-brother to Frankel, shaped with plenty of promise when second on his racecourse debut at Newmarket on Friday.
Sent off at 6/1 for division one of the Betfred 'Double Delight' British EBF Novice Stakes, Harry Charlton's charge travelled powerfully behind eventual winner Zoum Zoum (11/8) and Individualism for much of the race.
He was switched out from the rail passing the two furlong marker and while no match for the impressive winner, who came home two-and-a-half lengths clear under his penalty, ran on nicely under an educational ride.
Owned by Juddmonte, he is the last foal of Kind and his relatives not only include the remarkable Frankel but Group One winner Noble Mission, Bullet Train and Joyeuse.
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Zoum Zoum was taking his unbeaten record to two after winning on debut at Kempton and joint-owner Lynn Turner said: “We were not sure how she would handle the ground, but we owned the dam and she won a Listed race here on her final start on soft ground. We were hopeful but we are really pleased with him. He will be tucked away for the winter now. It is even more thrilling as he is the first foal from the dam and he is now two out of two.
“Ralph seems to think he might want six furlongs but then Rob said he could stay at seven or possibly get a mile. We will have a chat with Ralph then decide a plan for next year.”
Reverend boost for Bloom
The Reverend gave joint owner Tony Bloom the perfect boost ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday after defying his inexperience to make a winning debut in division two of the seven-furlong contest.
Handling the testing conditions better than most, the 9-2 chance, who is owned by Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Bloom in partnership with Ian McAleavy, answered his connections prayers when swooping past his rivals late on to score by a length and three quarters.
Maureen Haggas, wife to winning trainer William Haggas, said: “He did well, but he probably handled the ground a bit better than some of the others as he is by Lope de Vega, but he does not necessarily have to have it like that.
“He has taken a little time to get there. He has changed quite a lot over the year, and he is now physically and mentally more mature. He has taken it all in his stride today. A lot of today was about the experience. Although there are not many people here he has behaved well as it is totally different to what he is used to.”
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