Kevin Ryan could not hide his enthusiasm as Triple Time made a winning return to action following a year off the track in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes at Haydock.
Viewed as a 2000 Guineas prospect in the spring, he picked up a problem after a racecourse gallop which has kept him out of action until now.
With the race reduced to just four runners due to the quickening ground, Triple Time was sent off the 13-8 favourite but he oozed class.
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Brought into contention smoothly by Andrea Atzeni, he only needed to be kept up to his work to win by a length and three-quarters to set himself up for a big autumn.
“To quicken up and go through the line like that, I couldn’t be happier. He’s very special, he’s got a lot of talent,” said Ryan.
“I’ll have a chat with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid (owner) tomorrow, it was all about today, hopefully he comes home safe.
“The Grey Gatsby would be my best middle distance horse, he was a multiple Group One winner, but this is a very good horse, he’s a special talent.
“I was devastated when he went wrong before the Guineas, I thought he had a real chance. He actually did it on the track at Newmarket, he came back with a lameness after a great piece of work, a tiny stress fracture.
“We’ve given him loads of time but this was coming a bit quick, I’d have loved another gallop. He’s obviously very special to do that.
“We’ll have a look at the Group Two on Arc weekend (Prix Daniel Wildenstein) but I’ll chat to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid first. It’s all about next year.”
Due to a spate of non-runners, Frankie Dettori’s only ride on the card was Jessica Harrington’s Irish Lullaby in the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Handicap and it briefly looked as if he was going to be successful only to just pull up short behind Inverness.
The Charlie Hills-trained winner had run well in the Melrose at York behind Soulcombe and off just 1lb higher, he obliged at 6-1 by a neck.
Kieran Shoemark was on board and said: “I’ve ridden him a few times of late and I don’t think he enjoys the hustle and bustle.
“He has the potential to be a lovely horse next year. Today we had no excuses, we sat second and he just lengthened. He’s still a bit babyish and if he’s gelded he could be very good.”
Heather Main landed the £100,000 Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup for the second successive year with Island Brave.
Unfortunately, the lack of forecast rain reduced the scheduled 15-runner field to six but Island Brave was handy throughout under Gina Mangan.
They looked a sitting duck as the challengers mounted up behind, but Mangan had saved plenty and the pair won going away by three-quarters of a length from Charging Thunder – whose rider Jason Watson was banned for three days for careless riding.
“Gina had studied the race and did the right thing, but she did need to get rolling and they kept coming at him. He’s so tough,” said Main.
“Gina deserves plenty of credit, she followed the instructions to the letter and I think she’s a great jockey.
“Funnily enough I put him in the Doncaster Cup this morning, so we’ll see how he is.”
Mangan was celebrating the biggest win of her career and said: “I’m stuck for words really, it was just great to get the ride in the first place. He had a great chance and we got the result we wanted.
“He got headed and fought back, but that was the style he did it in last year and I wasn’t worried. He’s an eight-year-old who still loves the game.”
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