Almeric Defies Lengthy Absence To Win Doonside Cup In Style
Almeric put a 158-day lack behind him as he originated from last to first to easily land the Ladbrokes "Big Football Bet Builder Boosts" Doonside Cup Stakes at Ayr.
Caviar Heights set the early rate in the Listed occasion with King's Gambit keeping tabs on him two lengths in financial obligations with champ jockey Oisin Murphy happy to drop the Andrew Balding-trained Almeric in at the rear of the field.
Caviar Heights deteriorated as the race got in the final furlong and a half and Murphy timed his difficulty to perfection and once he asked the concern, Almeric moved to the front of the field as the 13-8 favourite won for the 3rd time in four starts, 2 and three-quarter lengths clear of King's Gambit.
Murphy informed ITV: "He's clearly a bit ring rusty due to the fact that he's been off the track for a while but he came into the race well but then he most likely got to the front a little bit earlier than perfect.
"Obviously with the time off the track he need to be on his next start.
"We have actually constantly loved him he's the most stunning model.
Almeric wins the Doonside Cup at Ayr (Steve Welsh/PA)
"He's almost got a perfect record having actually won his last three starts and he ran well on debut. When you make racehorses this is what they are supposed to look like."
The Richard Spencer-trained Candy made all to win the Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup.
The field split coming out of the stalls with the George Wood-ridden Candy hitting the front on the near side, with his chief rivals fighting it out on the far side of the course.
Sondad was getting the better of Eye Of Dubai entering the final half furlong, but Wood was always in command and the 8-1 saw off Sondad by one and three-quarter lengths.
Spencer stated: "It's great, George gets on truly well with him, the ground is the crucial too him. He appears to just relish it and has a high travelling speed and simply keeps it going. I'm absolutely pleased. Hopefully we'll be returning here next year for the big one."
Owner Phil Cunningham added: "It's the sort of horse, particularly in a field like that, that he's not too hard to spot. You understand how's he going to run. He's going to come off the front and what an incredible training performance. It was fantastic, definitely remarkable."
Thunder Roar struck the front a furlong from home and hung on to win the Ladbrokes "Free Bet At Ayr" Handicap, while the Richard Hughes-trained Nobody Knows got up to win the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes to give Murphy a double.