Trainer Ralph Beckett © Photo Healy Racing
Ralph Beckett’s Zoum Zoum struck on his handicap debut at Doncaster after a season spent in Listed and Group company.
The chestnut, who was unbeaten as a two-year-old, finished second in the Greenham on his debut this year and has collected minor place money in the Surrey Stakes, the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and the City Plate at Chester.
Most recently he was a good third in the Listed Prix Matchem at Saint-Cloud and on Town Moor he lined up for the William Hill More Top Prices Handicap as a 4-1 shot under Rob Hornby.
Over the six-furlong trip he stayed on best of all to hold off a challenge from John Ryan’s The X O and prevail by half a length.
“He’s a lovely horse, he had a great two-year-old campaign and was unbeaten,” said Hornby.
“He’s not done a lot wrong all year and a step back to six (furlongs) was always going to suit him in the conditions.
“I was pretty keen to press on early and keep it sustained because he was always going to see out the six well. He’s a really fun, pleasant horse and he’s great for the owners.
“He’s always been a really nice horse and we came out this year thinking he could be anything and he’s not done a lot wrong.”
Janey Mackers showed significant promise when powering to victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
This race has produced some smart fillies in the past, most recently acting as a first port of call for John and Thady Gosden’s subsequent Oaks winner Soul Sister in 2022.
The same stable had an entry with an eyecatching pedigree this time in Queen Of Thieves, a full-sister to Cracksman who was making her debut, but it was David Menuisier’s Janey Mackers at the head of the market.
Third on the first run of her career at Yarmouth earlier in the month, the two-year-old daughter of New Bay was ridden by Oisin Murphy again and started as the 7-4 favourite.
On soft ground she always looked a threat over the one-mile trip and as the race reached the final two furlongs she was clearly not for catching as she pulled away to a five-and-a-half-length success.
“She worked really well before her first run, she ran pleasingly at Yarmouth and today she stepped forward,” said Murphy.
“We went a nice even pace, we didn’t waste any energy.
“The trainer is having a great year so it’s nice to partner the likes of her now, she’s one to look forward to.”
Glittering Legend came out on top with a tough victory in the William Hill Offers Proper Prices Nursery Handicap.
The well-bred two-year-old did not take to the track at Epsom last time, but has a prior win at Goodwood to his name after a gelding operation seemed to serve him well on his second career start.
At 13-8 under Harry Davies the James Fanshawe-trained bay was always handy in a small field and held off the Gosden-trained Attack to prevail by a neck.
“He went to Epsom the last day and didn’t handle the track, back on a more conventional track he has gone and franked his Goodwood win,” said Tom Fanshawe, assistant to his father.
“It’s worked out very well and looking at the family, they tend to get better with age.
“He is still quite immature, he’s been growing up the whole time. On his debut here he was a real handful so we gelded him after that and he’s learning with each run.
“It’s quite exciting when they’re still immature, he’s won off a mark of 90 today and he’s still immature so the future looks quite bright for him.”
Charlie Appleby’s Music Of Time made an impression when landing the Join Century Racing Club Today EBF Maiden Stakes.
The Dubawi colt was third on the all-weather on Kempton on his debut earlier in the month and was backed to take a step forward from that effort when facing a turf surface for the first time.
Under William Buick he was the 15-8 favourite and his key rival looked to be the Gosden-trained debutant Kaleido, a full-brother to the Clarehaven star Mishriff.
Their rivalry in the market was replicated on the track and after making all of the running it was Music Of Time who came out on top as Kaleido was beaten a length and a quarter in an effort full of future promise.
