3 minute read

William Haggas enjoyed a big-race double at Newbury when Tiber Flow toughed it out in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes on Saturday.

The talented five-year-old has undergone something of a turbulent season after suffering a nasty fall in the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes at York prior to his smooth success in the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes at Newbury a month later.

Things didn't go to plan when he finished well beaten in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last-time-out, but once again William Haggas' gelding showed his toughness and resilience to bounce back to winning ways in dramatic fashion.

There were plenty of question marks about where the pace would come from on paper, but the six-furlong prize was run at a genuine tempo with the Ed Walker-trained pair Popmaster, who ploughed a lone burrow towards the centre of the track, and the more fancied English Oak helping force proceedings up front.

Popmaster still led the field entering the final furlong, but the challengers were queuing up in behind with Kikkuli, English Oak, and Tiber Flow all hot on his heels. Ed Walker's grey gave way deep inside the final furlong and four horses remained firmly in contention heading towards the line.

Jumby emerged on the scene up the near side rail, with Kikkuli and Tiber Flow sandwiched between Witch Hunter, who flew from the rear of the pack to join the dealings late on. A flurry of heads crossed the line almost in unison, but after a moment of inspection, it was clear the Group 2 prize would either be going the way Tiber Flow or Witch Hunter.

The judge was called to determine the outcome and after a brief wait, it was announced that Tiber Flow had clung on to prevail by a flared nostril under Tom Marquand.

Jumby finished just a further short-head behind in third.

Maureen Haggas, wife and assistant to the winning trainer, said: "After York, he ran the next time at Haydock and had to be pushed out to win, he's an absolute legend and I couldn't be prouder of him, he's such a star.

"He wants to win and that's a pretty hard trait to find in a lot of horses – and it's just brilliant.

"I thought he was dead (at York). I took my shoes off and went running down the track and he just came cantering past me with his ears pricked. I promise you; we went back to the stables after and it didn't seem to bother him, he must be as hard as nails.

"He's as tough as old boots and a legend. He prefers softer ground in an ideal world, but you just wouldn't know, he just keeps surprising us."

Marquand told ITV Racing: "He's a proper warrior and to have had the turbulent year he has and to come out and have the season he has since been brilliant.

"To be honest, he's been a revelation since he had the fall and it's quite remarkable. As I said after he won at Haydock, you can't underestimate how much the team does at home to make sure these horses come to the races in peak condition.

"We hit the ground very hard (at York) and in a six-furlong Group race you are flying. It was relatively quick ground and it's remarkable that he stood up all right.

"When they turn over, you can't help but think about the worst for the horse because they are much more fragile than we are and aren't meant to do that – I know we're not either, but we're probably built a bit more for it.

"Remarkably, he was back less than six weeks later and getting his head in front and probably producing a career best – and now he has bettered that again, it is pretty incredible stuff."

He added: "I thought I was beat. Witch Hunter came with a bit of a run, and I thought it would push me forward and then right on the line I thought Jamie's (Spencer, on Witch Hunter) nose was down and he just caught us at the wrong time. Absolutely thrilled that he didn't."