COULD history repeat itself? Twelve months ago, Ralph Beckett introduced an unraced two year-old called Bluestocking at Salisbury of whom he entertained high hopes. And how they have been justified.
Now he has given a debut to Perfect Your Craft who rallied late to snatch the one mile novice as the stable expected.
"She's a sweet filly. It wasn't a big surprise but it was a really good effort," said Ralph.
Winning jockey Hector Crouch echoed his comments. "She's certainly one to look forward to next year. I was very pleased with that."
The Kimpton Down dogs have long been barking about Chantilly Lace who overcame her lack of racecourse experience to run out a clear winner of the seven furlong juvenile race. A big, tall filly, she is considered 1,00 Guineas material.
"She was very green and pricked her ears. I was pleased with the way she knuckled down so well. She will progress significantly over the winter and I hope to get her ready for the Fred Darling at Newbury in April."
Neither filly, who cemented Beckett's record of being the course's leading trainer with 10 winners, will run again this term.
As for Bluestocking - the winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp and second in the King George at Ascot this season, has been supplemented at a staggering £100,000 as a late entry for the Arc De Triomphe on Sunday. "I would like to see a bit more rain but the ground is on her side and I pleased with the draw."
Despite swerving to her left inside the final furlong, the progressive Bob Mali shrugged off a penalty to retain his unbeaten record with his third success to land the most valuable race of the day and earn a step up in grade in a stakes race, potentially the Horris Hill at Newbury in three weeks.
"They were a few bits and pieces wrong," remarked trainer Ollie Sanger of her sudden dart. "He had been out in front for a bit and perhaps he was looking for company but he did it nicely in the end. He enjoyed the slower ground and the stiff six furlongs."
Though southern trainer invariably monopolise races at Salisbury, most racegoers will be unaware of High Palmer's remarkable strike rate at the track and that 43 per cent was enhanced when Nariko at 13/2 came from a seemingly impossible position a furlong out to mow down Land of Magic in the six-furlong handicap. Certainly not a shock for the shrewdies who waded at 12/1!
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