The horse racing razzmatazz continues this week at Windsor Races. Following Monday’s ‘Vegas Night’, attention now shifts to the equine extravaganza that is the Racing League, which rolls into town this Thursday.
However, first things first: congratulations to Elmonjed’s connections, who were crowned the Windsor sprint king on Monday when he won the final of the Fitzdares’ Sprint Series.
Commiserations must go to Amazonian Dream though, who finished runner-up. Regular Windsor racegoers have a real soft spot for the Rod Millman runner. He was making his 14th appearance at the track in the space of just 26 months. The 5-year-old son of Bungle Inthejungle, who finished 4th in the 2023 Sprint Series Final, has been a very consistent sort this term and pushed Elmonjed all the way to the line.
Windsor Races – Monday August 12th Review
The youngest generation kicked off ‘Vegas Night’, and for the second Windsor meeting on the trot, favourite backers were left whooping and hollering after the opener. David Evan’s market leader, Piranha Rama, had failed to justify favouritism at Doncaster ten days earlier, but there were no concerns this time around. Richard Kingscote had her settled out in front early on and she kept on well over the 6-furlong trip, to win by a cosy 2 ½ lengths. It came as a welcome relief for Welsh handler Evans, who finally got off the Windsor mark this year at the 14th time of asking.
The spotlight remained on the 2-year-olds for the second race of the evening. With one of the early market fancies, Huscal, a non-runner, it meant that Blewburton went off a short 6/4 jolly. Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding set the standard following an impressive winning performance on debut, in a class 2 event at Leicester in April. He had followed that up with a 3rd place finish at Salisbury in June.
However, Blewburton found two rivals too good once again at Windsor. One of those being Eve Johnson Houghton’s less-fancied runner, Silca Bay, who finished strongly to claim second spot. The win though went to Archie Watson’s Glitterati, who like Piranha Rama in the opener, stamped his authority on proceedings early on, in the hands of Luke Morris. It was another powerful turf display by the colt. He had won by 6 lengths at Chepstow two races earlier and showed that wasn’t a fluke by finishing 4 lengths clear of his rivals this time.
Jack Channon’s Staincliff Storms To Victory
The 3rd race may have been the shortest in distance on Monday’s card, but that didn’t stop Staincliff cruising to the biggest winning margin of the evening (8 ½ lengths), over the flying five furlongs. Jack Channon’s 3-year-old may have been making her seasonal reappearance, but punters weren’t deterred and piled on. Staincliff went off the very hot 1/6 favourite for the 5-runner contest.
There wasn’t a furrowed brow in sight as the filly, who had performed admirably at the back end of last year, took up the running for a second occasion during the race, a furlong out. Staincliff bolted clear under the guidance of Charles Bishop, who has ridden the filly in each of her three races to date.
And so to the feature event of the evening and one of the highlights of the Windsor racing year, the Fitzdares Sprint Series Final. As mentioned in the introduction, congrats to Elmonjed, the 11/4 favourite, who took up the lead from a furlong out and was always doing enough. Jim Crowley, draped in those famous blue and white Shadwell silks, never needed to get too rigorous in the saddle, despite some late attention from Amazonian Dream and Aramis Grey. It was the first victory of 2024 for Willie Haggas’ 3-year-old, although he’s produced some solid performances this year and looks one to keep on the right side of.
Kinetic Breaks Her Duck And Trounces The Field
Kinetic finally recorded her first win at the 12th time of asking in the 5th race on the card, a handicap for 3-year-olds over the maximum Windsor distance of 11.5 furlongs. Kinetic’s recent shift of stable from Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero to James Owen’s yard in Newmarket seems to have worked wonders for the son of Kodiac. She was knocking on the door when second at Yarmouth last Thursday and she smashed through that door and then some, when soaring to a 7 ½ length success in the hands of Callum Shepherd on Monday.
Favourites had won four of the opening five events, but the balance of power swung back in the bookies’ favour in the last, as market leader, Oh So Audacious, was pipped to the post by Stuart Williams’ Bonaventure. in the 3-year-old plus handicap over a mile. Similar to Kinetic in the previous race, Bonaventure had been waiting a long while to break his career duck. The step-up to 8 furlongs has brought out the best in the 3-year-old though. He finished second at Windsor ten days earlier on his mile debut and went one better on Monday, holding off challenges from Oh So Audacious and Milvus to break the tape for the first ever time.
Windsor Races – What’s Still To Come In 2024
Some of the remaining highlights this year are as follows:
October
14th – Final Flat Meeting
December
15th – The Return of NH Racing
Windsor Races – Thursday August 15th Preview
Windsor is staging the 4th leg of this year’s Racing League. At the halfway mark in the 2024 event, two teams are setting the pace. ‘The East’ outfit managed by former Love Island star, Chris Hughes, top the table on 434pts and have a small 7.5pt lead over Jamie Osborne’s ‘Wales & The West’ crew. Matt Chapman’s ‘London & The South’ side are back in third on 374pts. After a fantastic start to the competition at the Yarmouth and Wolverhampton events, ‘The East’ were pegged back during the 3rd leg at Chepstow last Thursday and there’s all to play for with three weeks still to go.
With over £2 million prize money up for grabs during this year’s Racing League, there’s plenty of incentive for all seven sides to keep on grafting and giving their all, including even Leonna Mayor’s ‘Yorkshire’ gang, who currently prop up the standings on 184pts. As well as the £2 million, there’s an additional £50,000 winner-takes-all prize for the triumphant team, a £35,000 prize pool to the winning team’s jockeys and £20,000 to the jockey that scores the most individual points.
Windsor Race-By-Race Preview
17:00
Wales & The West could pile further pressure on Chris Hughes ‘East’ mob, as I expect a good run from Ed Walker’s Balmoral Lady in the opener. The 3-year-old filly has been running consistently all season and ran a decent race at Glorious Goodwood in a higher-class contest. Another positive note is that Invincible Army’s progeny has run well at Windsor. Her biggest danger may come from Spring Is Sprung, who was a course and distance winner back in 2021. Phil Midgley’s runners have been there or thereabouts of late and his 5-year-old could be in the mix.
17:30
Matt Chapman could be yeehawing even more than usual after the second race on the card. I expect both ‘London & The South’ competitors, Great Acclaim and Post Rider, to give a good account of themselves. Both Eve Johnson Houghton’s runners placed during Monday’s Windsor meeting and her Great Aclaim produced two solid performances at the track back in May. Post Rider hasn’t been out of the frame this year and has the added bonus of having Oisin Murphy on top. My preference is for Great Aclaim of the two.
Warren Hill Could Thrill Chris Hughes’ Hoard
18:00
Roger Varian’s Warren Hill returns to action following a pleasing victory at Windsor last month. It was one of her best career performances and more impressively it came after an 164-day break. She’s always given a good account of herself when the hooves are rattling and I’m hopeful of another strong display. So are Chris Hughes and his ‘East’ chums. God Of Fire and Due To Henry have also run well at the track this season, but those displays were softer going.
18:30
I was one of the frustrated punters who backed Believe In Stars at Windsor at the end of June only to see Sir Michael Stoute’s 5-year-old get chinned on the line. I’m not one to hold grudges though and he gets my support in this class 3 contest. He was staying on when 5th in a 10-furlong event at Yarmouth last month and should relish this step back up in trip.
Warming To Arctic Thunder’s Chances
19:00
Andrew Balding ‘s Arctic Thunder failed to justify favouritism and deliver the goods at Goodwood earlier this month, but that was over 7 furlongs and this return to a mile should suit better. The 3-year-old colt had finished 9th in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot (over 8 furlongs) prior to that. Yantarni could prove the main threat, after his second place finish in the Shergar Cup Mile at Ascot on Saturday.
19:30
Katey Kontent did the business for me in one of the Windsor Sprint Series qualifiers back in May and she loves it at the track. Clive Cox’s 4-year-old filly has finished 1st, 1st and 3rd in her previous three Windsor runs. She’s not finished worse than 4th in any of her last 8 starts. Saffie Osborne takes the reins this time and she gets my vote again. I wouldn’t discount Chief Mankato’s chances though. He’s Jack Channon’s sole runner at the meeting and the Berkshire handler has been in top notch form at the track lately.
20:00
Andaleep finished second on his previous starts, and the Kubler’s 8-year-old seems to be thriving. His latest win came at the start of July here at Windsor, his third career success at the track. I’m expecting another strong performance from the son of Siyouni and he gets my vote in the last.
Where To Catch All The Windsor Race Action
Like every Windsor meeting, all races will be screened live on Sky Sports Racing. As an added treat, as it’s a Racing League evening, all the action is also live on ITV4. Good Luck All !!! Let us know your Windsor selections by clicking on ‘Comments’ under the main article title at the top of the piece.
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Image Credit: Deposit Photos
