Norman’s Cay edges victory in Brocklesby battle Norman’s Cay lined up in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee EBF Brocklesby Stakes as the most expensive juvenile in the race and he just lived up to his billing when prevailing by a nose at Doncaster. Richard Hannon’s colt cost big-spending Amo Racing 60,000 guineas, which for an organisation who spent millions in the last sales season, is comparatively little in the bloodstock world. His price, coupled with hailing from the same connections who won the race in 2022 with Persian Force, saw him sent off the 3-1 favourite but David Egan looked in trouble a furlong out. Jonathan Portman’s Son Of Sarabi, a 25-1 chance, had first run on him and looked like holding on but Norman’s Cay got up in the final stride to win by a nose. “He’s always found things quite easy and he’s there in his coat, which a lot of mine aren’t yet, so it made sense to run him,” said Hannon. “I loved the way he ran on, he looked beaten. Sometimes in the Brocklesby they go flat out from the stalls and fall in a heap, but it actually looked a nice race. “He’s a nice horse, he’ll get better and he looks like he wants six (furlongs). We’ve a lot of nice two-year-olds so I don’t know where he’ll end up. “It’s a slight problem in winning a class two that you have to go somewhere loud or carry a big penalty, but at least this was good money and worth winning.” Retired TV presenter Robert Cooper was part of the syndicate which owns the runner-up and said: “A nose, can you believe it. “He was unsold at the sales and cost next to nothing but Jonny (Portman, trainer) said he’d done everything right and there was no reason not to run.” Thunder Roar was a narrowly-beaten favourite in the William Hill Bet £10 Get £10 Spring Mile Handicap last year and this time around was first past the post at 25-1, but the stewards deemed he caused enough interference to prevent Pearl Eye from winning. The pair both went for the same gap just over a furlong out with Thunder Roar leaning into 50-1 shot Pearl Eye. As the winning distance was only a short head, the stewards’ verdict went in favour of Darryll Holland’s runner, ridden by Jason Watson. “I’ve only seen the side on, but they both went for the same gap and the crucial thing is the distance was only a short head,” said Holland. “If it was anything more than that, would they have thought it had cost him the race? He’s done well regardless from his low draw. “I know he was a big price, but he ran the other day in cheekpieces and that just put him spot on. He’ll go to Chester now.” The first three in the William Hill More Top Prices Maiden Stakes all made favourable impressions, with winner Bedouin Prince (7-4) almost going back round to Rose Hill by the time James Doyle was able to pull him up. Beaten on the nod on his debut in November, he was wearing a hood this time and Charlie Appleby’s colt looks another son of Ghaiyyath with a big future. He beat The Cursor by a neck, with half a length back to Amo’s newcomer, Square Necker. “I did a bit (of work) the other morning with him in the hood and Charlie said ‘do you want it on or off?’ and I’m glad we left it on as it’s pretty windy,” said Doyle. “As we took the turn, the wind hit him head on and set him alight so I was a bit concerned, which meant I rode him slightly quieter than I’d planned. “He was gutsy, there’s a few things we can tinker with but he only went down by a nose last time so he’s a talented horse, clearly.” Sam Feilden was taken to hospital after falling from Monteria in the first division of the apprentice riders’ race, won James Owen’s Destinado (22-1).
