RACING NEWS:NEWMARKET HAS not been the most fruitful of hunting grounds for Richard Fahey but he left the opening day of the Craven meeting with two of the big-race winners.
Top of the list financially was the success of Sir Reginald in the €169,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Sprint, although the continually improving Yorkshire trainer could now have a 1,000 Guineas runner after the effort of Barefoot Lady in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes.
Classics had not really been considered before his filly appeared in this noted trial and the 14 to 1 shot was hardly an obvious candidate on her two-year-old form.
However, she really hit her stride late on under Paul Hanagan to edge past Aidan O’Brien’s hot favourite Sing Softly and the useful John Gosden runner Maqaasid in the shadow of the post.
“I was one from 60 runners here in recent years, it’s not been the best, but this has been a very good day,” said Malton-based Fahey. “She’s only slight but Paul said they don’t get any tougher.
“I have to talk to her owner (Norman Steel) about supplementing her, but he’s keen. The trip was a question mark today but on that showing she should get a mile.”
Sir Reginald (4 to 1) had earlier provided compensation to Fahey and owner Jim McGrath (the Channel 4 broadcaster) for a few disappointments. Hanagan looked to have things under control from a fair way out, swooping down the outside with a furlong to run to win by three-quarters of a length from Madany, who did not have a great passage through.
* Peter Toole remains stable in hospital following his fall at Aintree on Grand National day. The 22-year-old suffered bleeding on the right side of his brain when Classic Fly fell at the first fence during the Maghull Novices’ Chase and is currently in the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
