3 minute read
Yorkshireman William Haggas landed his first winner of the Ebor meeting when Relief Rally stayed on strongly to claim Group 2 Lowther Stakes honours.
Relief Rally made it three wins from four starts when adding the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes to Newbury Super Sprint success.
Dorothy Lawrence took the field along at a brisk pace and it looked as though Relief Rally may be in a spot of bother, as Tom Marquand asked his mount for more in behind a wall of horses. However, the gap soon appeared as the field panned out across the track and the daughter of Kodiac picked up in fine style to score by a length.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Cherry Blossom stayed on well to fill the runner-up, but she was ultimately no match for the 2/1 favourite. Symbology, who was situated more towards the far side, struck the front with a furlong to run but could only manage third.
Haggas said: "You don't get much time in a six-furlong race to worry, but I was thinking 'crikey, she's got a bit to do here' – I was really impressed with the way she picked up.
"I think she's a pure two-year-old, I've had a few fillies, one called Besharah won this race, and she didn't go on. I think it's really hard, especially when they are small, we don't want to get wrapped up in them being a fantastic three-year-old, this may well be her year in which case we want to capitalise.
"She's pretty good and she's good in her head, although she dances a bit in the paddock. She's easy to train.
"I haven't had a chance to talk to Tom, as this is Simon [Munir's] day, it's his first-ever trip to York."
On whether a tilt at the Cheveley Park was on the cards, Haggas added: "Whether we have one before her last run, I don't know. If we do it will be the Flying Childers with a Group Two penalty, that's 50-50, then it will be the Cheveley Park or the Prix de l'Abbaye."
Marquand said: "We hoped stepping up to six would work in her favour and I was looking forward to it as just over five she'd hit a little flat spot before finishing really strongly.
"Over six that just didn't happen today. She had plenty to pass a furlong out, but they were all within a length. To be honest, she never had me worried, and she hit the line hard.
"William has done a remarkable job to get her to win the pot she did after Royal Ascot [runner-up in the Queen Mary Stakes] and coming here now.
"I hope it's the Cheveley Park selfishly as if she goes for the Abbaye, I won't be able to ride her [due to being unable to make the weight], but William will make the right decision."
Paddy Power cut the impressive winner from 9/2 to 5/2 for the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket later in the season, while Unibet went 11/4 on the back of her Knavesmire performance.
