End of a Warwick summer that was anything but Flat

It was a grey, damp afternoon for Warwick’s flat finale but it had been a season to remember thanks to the glorious summer weather and the exploits of star fillies Winning Express and Chriselliam.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Oct 2013, 12:13 BST
There was a thrilling finish to division two of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes with Artistic Charm and jockey James Doyle (far side) just getting the better of Song Of Norway and Seb Sanders. MHLC 03-10-13 races Oct21There was a thrilling finish to division two of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes with Artistic Charm and jockey James Doyle (far side) just getting the better of Song Of Norway and Seb Sanders. MHLC 03-10-13 races Oct21
There was a thrilling finish to division two of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes with Artistic Charm and jockey James Doyle (far side) just getting the better of Song Of Norway and Seb Sanders. MHLC 03-10-13 races Oct21

Winning Express followed up her QIPCO 1,000 Guineas fourth to the top-class Sky Lantern with an impressive win in the £40,000 EBF Stallions/Arkle Finance Eternal Stakes in June, one of the two Listed races run over the course during the season.

Chriselliam, who broke the juvenile track record when quickening clear of favourite Art Official to win a maiden in July, went on to greater success in Newmarket’s Group 1 Shadwell Fillies Mile, beating hot favourite Rizeena.

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Highlights of last Thursday’s eight-race card were the two finals of the Jockey Club Grassroots Series.

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With both races carrying a prize fund of £25,000 there was hot competition and market leader Cashpoint, ridden by Richard Kingscote, overcame 13 rivals to take the middle distance event for Alvechurch trainer Ian Williams.

Midnight Rider was bidding to win the sprint final for a second year, but Chris Wall’s charge found his way blocked close home and it was Trinityelitedotcom who prevailed to complete a big race double for Kingscote.

Lady Lunchalot was a comfortable winner of the opening rewards4racing.com Selling Stakes, reeling in long-time leader Zinnobar at the furlong pole.

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Charlie Hills, trainer of Chriselliam, was on the scoresheet again with another juvenile when Sahra Al Khadra and Paul Hanagan got the better of Finn Class in the following nursery, in which five horses went off as 5-1 co-favourites.

The Irish Stallion Stud Farms EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes was divided and Hanagan’s mount Muhawalah was sent off the 6-4 favourite to take the first division on her debut.

Slowly away, she never got into contention as 16-1 shot Miss Buckshot and Alys Love fought out another thrilling finish, with just a head between them at the line.

There was drama in the second division when Step Away veered and unseated Kingscote as the gates opened. Mia San Triple set a brisk pace up front, but was collared by Artistic Charm at the furlong pole and the well-backed favourite went clear under James Doyle to beat the running-on Song Of Norway.

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Thirteen went to post in the maiden for two-year-old colts and geldings with the tongue-tied Maraayill backed to step up on his debut seventh at Sandown Park. He looked to have made a winning move when hitting the front two furlongs out but had no answer to the finishing kick of Wickhambrook from the in-form Ismail Mohammed yard.

The curtain came down with the longest race of the day, The Dine In The 1707 Restaurant Handicap over one-and-three-quarter miles and Nateeja made it a double for Hanagan when scoring for the second time this year.