Having stored away the top hats, many trainers look to a less glamorous venue next Saturday – Gosforth Park and the Northumberland Plate, also known as the Pitmen’s Derby. The two-mile handicap is hardly cloth-cap territory, however, with a penalty value of £92,000 and an assured big field attracting runners from leading stables.
The Newcastle upon Tyne track refers to its Plate meeting as “north-east England’s version of Royal Ascot”. It is also proud of a far less pompous atmosphere. There is no dress code for the grandstand enclosure, though the rules do stipulate: “The removal of shirts is not permitted.”
James Fanshawe is one of several Newmarket trainers with a big chance in the Plate. Fresh from huge success with The Tin Man in Royal Ascot’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes on Saturday, Fanshawe on Sunday confirmed Higher Power as an intended runner. Tom Queally – The Tin Man’s jockey – has been booked to ride.
“Higher Power doesn’t like firm ground, which is why he didn’t run at Ascot in the Gold Cup,” the trainer said. “He doesn’t lack class and is very good on the all-weather.” A late-maturing, lightly raced five-year-old, he is a best-priced 10-1 for the Plate, third in the betting behind the 11-2 ante-post favourite Flymetothestars, who is trained by Sir Mark Prescott.
Fanshawe’s runner has been raised 4lb following his latest run, when a five-length second at level weights to Big Orange at Sandown in late May. Big Orange, of course, went on to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last week.
The trainer pointed out that She Is No Lady, third in the Sandown race, then finished fourth in the Gold Cup – further bolstering Higher Power’s form credentials and giving Fanshawe hope of his first Plate winner since saddling Bold Gait at Gosforth Park in 1995.
Far more recently the track’s turf was torn up and replaced by a Tapeta surface but this is unlikely to be a problem for Higher Power, a dual winner over two miles on Kempton Park’s Polytrack.
Sir Michael Stoute, who had a less successful week than his Newmarket neighbour, gained a little compensation with a double at Pontefract on Sunday. Stoute had a winnerless Royal Ascot despite being the meeting’s joint-top trainer on 75 (a landmark shared with the late Sir Henry Cecil), but his Abingdon stamped her class on the Pontefract Castle Fillies’ Stakes.
With Ryan Moore on board, the four-year-old was the even-money favourite and travelled powerfully for much of the mile and a half. She made ground from the home turn and quickly careered away for an impressive 10-lengths victory. Moore told Racing UK: “She’s a very smart filly. She won two Listed races last year and I think bad ground at Doncaster maybe got the better of her. She’s a big girl and she probably struggled to pull herself out of bad ground.
“This probably wasn’t the strongest of races but, when you win by 10 lengths, it’s a very good performance. I’m sure they’ll get her back and see how she is and make a plan. There’s a good programme for fillies, so I’d say she’ll probably stick to that. Hopefully she’ll get a Group-race win before too long.” Stoute completed his double when Swiftsure made all the running in a handicap.
Chris Corrigan’s Monday’s selections
Chepstow
2.00 Kiribati 2.30 Jinkie Pink 3.00 Dark Pearl
3.30 Priors Brook 4.00 Quantum Dot
4.30 Quite A Story 5.00 Opening Time
Southwell
6.10 Celtic Tune 6.40 Court King 7.10 Cape Caster
7.40 San Quentin 8.10 Mystic Sky 8.40 Fled Or Pled
9.10 Sweet Holly
Windsor
5.50 Strategic 6.20 Plutonian 6.50 Meshaykh
7.20 Open Wide (nb) 7.50 Lightening Dance
8.20 Many Waters 8.50 Lightoller
Wolverhampton
2.15 Retrieve 2.45 Super Julius 3.15 Fab
3.45 Five Star Frank 4.15 Lucky Di 4.45 Bridle March
5.15 Right About Now (nap) 5.45 Makhfar
