John of Gaunt win for Ten Bob Tony puts gloss on day Ed Walker will cherish

South Wales Guardian

3 days ago

A winner first time out last season, the four-year-old Ten Bob Tony was not disgraced in the 2000 Guineas and also ran well in France behind the classy Topgear.
Below par on his final outing and gelded since, he had a bit of a question to answer on his return, but with his form first time out and the great recent run of his stable in his favour, he came out on top in the Group Three prize.
Walker's string have bloomed of late, winning the Temple Stakes last week with Mgheera, the Brigadier Gerard with Almaqam and taking the Bronte Cup at York with Scenic and the Achilles Stakes at Haydock with Balmoral Lady before Ten Bob Tony did his bit.
Volterra looked to be travelling best at one stage before Audience, last year's Lockinge winner, threw down a challenge. Ten Bob Tony (5-1) slowly but surely got on top and then Ralph Beckett's eight-year-old Kinross, giving away weight all round, emerged as the final danger.
The two got close together and as they crossed the line there was just a head in it, with the placings unaltered after a long wait.
'That was an awful wait! Without sounding spoilt, it was so important he won. Ten Bob Tony was Simon Sadler's first ever horse and he's now come into the game in quite a big way,' said Walker, speaking from York.
'He had his first stakes winner in Qilin Queen in a Listed race at Newbury on Lockinge day and then he (Ten Bob Tony) came along for his first Group-race win.'
He added of his winning run: 'It's pretty special and absolutely amazing. I've won Group Ones before, but I have to say this has been a special day and special week. Long may it continue.'
Fortunately for Buick, he escaped a suspension. 'I got a caution,' he said.
'Obviously the stewards had to have a look at it, but my horse just ran around in front.
'He was a very game winner, it was a competitive race and hopefully he can progress.'
Decent day for @edwalkerracing. Ten Bob Tony gives him a second Group Three off the afternoon pic.twitter.com/SeJGxzBuTG
— Nick Robson (@ValueRacingPlus) May 31, 2025
Walker was represented on Merseyside by his assistant trainer, Matty Hicks, who said: 'It's been a frustrating spring waiting for the rain, it's been a painful waiting to get him out.
'He's always gone well fresh, he was a bit head-scratching towards the end of last year but we always banked on his form in France with Topgear and he's shown it a couple of times since.
'Topgear looks a Group One winner in waiting so we've always liked our horse. He's very tough and gelding him has made him a bit more of a man, he's getting towards being the finished article.
'I'd say he's more like to go back up to a mile than down to six furlongs and he has two entries at Ascot, the Hunt Cup and Queen Anne.'