3 minute read

William Haggas’ Sea Silk Road (9/2) landed the inaugural running of the Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes at Haydock this afternoon.

It was an emotional family success in the first running of the Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (formerly known as the Pinnacle Stakes) as Sea Silk Road provided William and Maureen Haggas (daughter of the great Lester Piggott) with a fitting success.

The Haggas team landed the Pinnacle Stakes last season with Sea La Rosa, but this year's victory had added meaning.

The race lost a little interest with the well-fancied Mimikyu being declared a non-runner for the John and Thady Gosden team shortly before runners headed to post.

The beautifully-bred daughter of Sea The Stars finished runner-up in last season's Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and looked right back to her best at Haydock today.

The five runners set off in single file with the German raider Nachtrose taking them along at a decent tempo throughout.

The Roger Varian-trained Modaara looked to be travelling sweetly approaching the two-furlong pole but faded badly to trail the field home.

Tom Marquand had his filly held up last of the five for much of the contest but began to smuggle his mount into the contention two furlongs out and she stuck on well for a three-quarter of a length victory.

Peter Schiergen's Nachtrose (9/1) battled on well to regain second with Karl Burke's Poptronic back in third.

The well-supported Even money favourite Time Lock never looked to be travelling on the ground and was eventually beaten three lengths back in fourth.

Haggas' wife and assistant Maureen Haggas described the victory as an "emotional" one.

She added: "She's got the form there and I just felt last year that she was still immature. She does look more like a proper racehorse this year; she was a butter ball for most of last year.

"I think she really enjoyed the ground; they're all saying it's really fast and that's what she wants. She enjoyed the trip and Tom (Marquand) gave her a great ride.

I don't think she does much when she gets to the front, so it was a beautiful ride.

"She won't got to Ascot, that will be too soon so William will find something. She's been a beautiful filly from the day Mr Tsui bought her as a yearling.

John Clarke bought her, and he sadly died last week, so it's all rather nice and emotional.

"It's my father's race and things like this don't always happen, so it's nice when it does.

"It will be the Lester Piggott forever, which is nice. He was obviously a massive part of my life, and we shared a lot of interests. It was hard on all of us when he died, and I miss him terribly."

Winning jockey Tom Marquand told ITV Racing: "This was one of those days – it feels like it was meant to be. It was a remarkable placing of a beautifully-bred filly that is going places, similarly to the filly last year.

"It is wonderful for the family, and this is what they dreamt of, I am sure.

"You don't finish second in a Ribblesdale by chance, and I think she is improving.

She feels more the complete racehorse this year. It was a smart performance and no doubt she will step on again."

Tracy Piggott, Haggas' sister was also in attendance and added: "It was very special and it's great when something goes to plan.

We thought that daddy was going to bring us a thunderstorm today, but he's brought us a winner!

"Obviously it's emotional and it brings back lots of memories. It's hard to believe that it's been a year that he's been gone, but Haydock is a very special place for us because of his history here.

"I remember for years going with the BBC here with Julian Wilson and I just loved it, it's a great atmosphere and it's always friendly.

Today is amazing, everybody is out and having a great time and it's just an honour to have this race. It's so special to us and the fact it's every year is pretty great.

"Tom's ride was perfect, like dad! He had tears in his eyes coming out, it meant a lot to him, and he would have got on really well with daddy.

It's been a great day - we came over this morning from Ireland and it's just been special.

"I'd say if Maureen has her way, Haggas will be on the winners board again yet!"