3 minute read
William Haggas' Santorini Star looks to be set for a big season after making a winning return to action in the Betfred Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.
Winner of the Park Hill Fillies' Stakes at Doncaster last season, Santorini Star rounded out her four-year-old campaign with an excellent second at the top-level in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu.
Returning to Group 2 company and dropped to a mile and a half for her reappearance, she kept on well in the closing stages under Tom Marquand to strike by a length and quarter from one-time Feilden Stakes winner Eydon.
"She was second in a Group 1 last year and she's just proved that she's quick enough to win a Group 2," said Haggas.
"She doesn't need to make the running; she just puts her head down and wants to win.
"Those horses are hard to find and with this family, Dreamloper didn't half improve when she was five so this filly could improve too. That was a nice start to her season."
Although clearly delighted with her success, Haggas was left frustrated at his decision not to enter the winner in the Coronation Cup, with the handler admitting they could now look at supplementing for a cost of £55,000.
He added "I'm just sick that I didn't put her in the Coronation Cup, we might have to supplement her. We'll see. It will be discussed. I wish I'd put her in; it would have saved all the aggro.
"I didn't miss it, I just decided against it so more fool me!"
William Haggas and Tom Marquand also enjoyed success earlier on the card thanks to an impressive performance from Earth Shot in the opening Darley EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
The 10/11 marker leader was cut to 25/1 (from 33s) for the Epsom Oaks, with a trip to Newbury now likely on the cards for the daughter of Time Test in order to test her Classic credentials.
Haggas said: "It probably wasn't a strong race for the type of race, but she did it very nicely,"
"I think she wants slow-ish ground, she ran a very good race on heavy ground, but she handled it quicker today and handled the undulations well – she won comfortably.
"The owners sponsor the mile-and-a-quarter fillies' race on Lockinge day, so I suspect we'll have a go there and see if she's worthy of a place on June 5 (at Epsom)."
Elsewhere on the card, Charlie Johnston was left eyeing a trip to Epsom after his expensive Frankel colt Ancient Egypt struck in the Listed JCB Newmarket Stakes.
The Amo Racing-owned colt won his first two starts as a juvenile before struggling when upped in grade behind Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge.
As a result, he was sent off a 16/1 chance in the hands of Rowan Scott on his return. However, he proved to be no back number and galloped on strongly out of the dip to score by two lengths.
Johnston said: "Once he'd won his two novices we felt he had to dip our toe in the water at a higher grade at the back end of last year, but I always felt we might be trying to run before we could walk,"
"He's still a baby and he is learning the job slowly, it was a disappointing run (in the Royal Lodge), but I didn't lose faith in the horse.
"This spring both Rowan and David (Egan) have been in to sit on him, and the feedback has been that we should be going a mile and a half straight away, the original plan had been to go to Chester next week.
"He worked with Lazy Griff last Saturday and I thought he was in great order so we shouldn't bypass this opportunity.
"He'll stay the extra two furlongs standing on his head, his next run will be at Epsom."
Ancient Egypt was cut to 33/1 (from 66s) for the Epsom Derby in June.
William Haggas and Tom Marquand rounded out a treble on the card with Saber Strike making it two wins from as many starts in the Listed King Charles II Stakes.
