By Graham Clark
Stan Moore hopes to be able to clear his passport in the new year after ‘the right horse’ Wizard of the Eye set himself up to spell the trip again with an early success in the British Stallion Studs EBF Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park today.
Since winning on his second start at Newbury last season, the son of Galileo Gold has set some lofty targets, however, despite coming up short on numerous occasions, he enjoyed a well-deserved turnaround in fortunes in the Listad de on the nine-race card.
All eyes were on Cash, making his first start since chasing home subsequent Irish Derby winner Westover in the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown Park in April, but he had no answer to 20-1 odds.
Dictating things from the start in the mile contest The Wizard Of Eye, who finished 11th in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in April and fifth in the German 2000 Guineas, was not because he caught him under David Egan at return to a mile.
Although the trailing trio of Cash, Dhabab and Tinker Toy all looked set to mount serious challenges on the home right, Eye Wizard proved relentless in front to beat the latter by three-and-a-half lengths to complete a treble of 180- 1 for Egan.
Moore said: “And he wandered a bit but he did badly after Newmarket (Joel Stakes) and didn’t last a mile and a quarter the other day. I gave him cheekbones while David rode him and he said maybe he was saving some for himself.
“Even though people said he had a disappointing run, there were still good horses not too far in front of him. He didn’t have easy races and he faced tough races.
“He was seventh in the Saudi Derby and was beaten by 11 lengths in the 2000 Guineas and was only beaten by three lengths at Greenham.
“He showed there today what he’s capable of. He’s a real horse, but he’s still a big kid. He’s 17.3 (hands) so he’s massive and there’s still a lot of room for improvement in him.
“That’s fantastic. He’s earned his face and been placed in Group Three twice but he hasn’t been given credit for what he’s done.”
As for future plans, Lambourn manager Moore hinted at another trip to Saudi Arabia next year if he gets an invite.
He added: “We might give him a chance to mature a bit, but we’ll see. It is quite complicated to place.
“We’ll see what the handicapper does. We wouldn’t mind going to Saudi Arabia again if we got an invitation to one of their races again.”
“That’s fantastic. He’s won his face and been placed in Group 3 twice but he hasn’t been given credit for what he’s done.”
As for future plans, manager Lambourn Moore hinted at another trip to Saudi Arabia next year, should an invitation come.
He added: “We might give him a chance to mature a bit, but we’ll see. It is quite complicated to place.
“We’ll see what the handicapper does. We wouldn’t mind going to Saudi Arabia again if we got an invitation to one of their races.”
Wizard of the Eye was the third winner on Egan’s card, who earlier struck aboard the Roger Varian-trained pair of Azure Angel (favourites 8-11) in the British Stallions Studs EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes and Dragon Icon (4-1 ) in the British EBF Novice Stakes.
The dragon shows power
David Egan believes Dragon icon he has the makings of a potentially intelligent individual after giving trainer Roger Varian a career-best 134th National winner of the year on his debut at Kempton Park today.
Bought for 360,000 guineas from last year’s Tattersalls October Book One sale, the son of Lope De Vega paid a small slice of that when he ran out of a ready winner of the British EBF Novice Stakes over seven furlongs.
Striking at full stride halfway down the home straight, the 4-1 chance continued to find enough in front to score by three and a quarter lengths to complete the 7.6-1 double for both Egan and the manager Newmarket, Varian.
Egan said: “He is a wonderful individual. I was closer to the back of the field than the front, but I took it out on the right early.
“It took him a few steps to go and he got it and I thought that was it and he was going to finish a nice fourth or fifth but then he went.
“We haven’t had many horses gallop past the line like he did there. Both myself and Adam Farragher (on Elnajmm, second) ended up pulling at the four furlong mark.
“He’s a raw horse who wouldn’t have been 100 per cent ready for it today because it was an educational experience.
“I didn’t have much to do with him. It is very well bred, and Mr. Varian’s should be taken seriously at the start, but he impressed me.
“His owner (Yoshiro Kubota) had a bit of success with Dragon Symbol, who will hopefully be back next year, but this is a wonderful horse.”
Opulence Thoroughbreds celebrated their 20th winner on the Flat this year after an ‘elegant litter’ Azure Angel he justified his confidence in connections when he put the ball in play for Varian and Egan in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes.
After opening his account at Newcastle last time, the 8-11 favorite appeared to drop back to six furlongs when holding off Galaxy Glazer by two lengths.
Courtney Wyatt, communications and racing manager for Opulence Thoroughbreds, said: “We have over 35 horses at the moment and this one has about 10 people involved.
“We were pretty confident that she was going really well today. I knew he wanted six furlongs as he just held on for over seven furlongs last time. Looks like a pretty classy chick.
“She ran green first time at Yarmouth but finished behind two nice fillies and caught the eye for us.
“He will rest in the winter and come back next year. We’ll talk to Roger Varian and see what his plans are, but six stages show her journey.