Tudhope backs up Group One strike with Ripon double

North Wales Chronicle

6 days ago

His old ally David O'Meara provided both and in Goyard, winner of the ripon-races.co.uk Book Now For Saturday August 16th Novice Stakes, they may have an above-average recruit for his part-owner, Brighton footballer Giorgino Rutter.
A six-and-a-half-length winner on soft ground over six furlongs at Ripon last time out, he dropped to the minimum trip with aplomb, defeating another previous winner in Right And Exact by a cosy half-length.
'Obviously he was back in trip today and he was certainly sharp enough,' said Tudhope of the 1-3 favourite.
'We were drawn wide, but he was quick enough to get across and get the rail.
'He's a big, gross horse and there should be more to come. Today he was more lively, but he had to be over this trip.
'He's a grand horse going forward. Whatever he does he's going to get better and there should be more to come.'
O'Meara's Tiva (13-8 favourite) then had very little bother in winning the Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Fillies' Handicap.
Reflecting on his first top-level success since winning the Irish 1000 Guineas on the same filly last May, Tudhope said: 'It was a brilliant day and great to get back on her.
'To go and do what she did again yesterday was unbelievable and she's now a Group One winner at two, three and four which is a great achievement.
'I think she's going for the Matron Stakes next.'
Another nice winner on the card was Simon and Ed Crisford's Dandana, who defied market weakness to claim the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes.
With Karl Burke's Pearl Fortune the 5-4 favourite and plenty of support for Tudhope's mount Rogue Temptation, Dandana was sent off at 3-1 despite winning her debut impressively.
The three came well clear and it was Harry Davies' mount who took the spoils by half a length. The other pair dead-heated for second.
Davies said: 'She's a nice filly. We've always liked her. She's a bit quirky, she probably wasn't in love with this track but she's got through it and she's won with a penalty.
'She's had to be tough. From the two-furlong pole it's slightly downhill and I think she was probably always doing enough, every time they came to her she went on. She could be all right.
'The rail definitely helps on a green filly. I'm not sure we'll bring her here again, though.
'With racing she'll come forward. She's pretty quirky but I'm sure she'd be fine stepping up in grade, she possibly could be a stakes filly as she was quietly impressive there.'
Tim Easterby's Mister Sox (6-1) came with a well-timed ride under Sean Kirrane to win the feature Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap.
'He's a lovely horse and he likes it here. He's been great for us and is just improving with age,' said Easterby of the five-year-old.
'He's by Pivotal and they take longer to reach their peak.'