Richard Hughes keeps Kool Kompany to secure impressive Craven Stakes win
14-1 shot gives tranier Richard Hannon trained horse a fourth successive Craven victory
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Your support makes all the difference.Kool Kompany ensured the Richard Hannon yard maintained its domination of the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes after hitting the mark in this year’s renewal at Newmarket.
Breaking smartly, the Richard Hughes-ridden 14-1 shot, who was giving weight away to his six rivals, took matters up from the fast-starting Nafaqa a furlong into the mile Group Three contest.
Nafaqa threatened to mount a serious challenge, but could not quite bridge the gap, with Kool Kompany maintaining a length and a quarter gap, ensuring a fourth successive Craven win for the Hannon team. The Hannon-trained Moheet stayed on well to be third without threatening.
Bookmakers were generally unimpressed, but Hannon said: “He’s always been a very tough horse, but I was not sure if he’d stay a mile and he did have things marginally his own way out in front.
“People have not given him the respect he deserves, I don’t think there was anything flukey about the win. The third has run a good race, but he’s a bit immature as he didn’t learn a lot from his first run and he needed the experience today. Both will go for the Guineas.”
French Navy (3-1) defied his advancing years to win with a bit to spare when coming with a late flourish to swoop in the Weatherbys General Stud Book Earl of Sefton Stakes.
Twelve months after finishing second, the seven-year-old went one better when delivered by William Buick deep inside the final furlong before finishing a three-quarters of a length winner.
Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “The old boy has got us out of trouble today, the main thing for him over the winter and through the spring was that he showed his old enthusiasm, which he has.”
It was almost a case of deja vu in the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes for Kevin Ryan and Jamie Spencer following the pillar-to-post victory of Astaire.Last year saw the trainer and jockey plunder the Group Three six-furlong contest from the front with Hamza.
Adopting similar tactics, Spencer found the 9-2 shot a more than willing partner with the four-year-old prevailing by three-quarters of a length. Ryan said: “When he ran at Doncaster the ground was sticky and I told Jamie he might need it a bit and he did. I think he’ll go for the Duke of York now, then on to Ascot.”
Ryan Moore was seen at his strongest in steering Cape Clear Island to a battling success in the £200,000 Tattersalls Millions Three-year-old Trophy. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt (14-1) went through the gears before prevailing by a head from Greatest Journey. Co-owner Michael Tabor said: “The price tells you it was a surprise. I don’t know if he is up for going for the Dante or to Chester.”
Sir Michael Stoute celebrated his first winner of the season after Dissolution (4-1) continued where he left off with victory in the A Sure Thing Mandarin Stakes to complete Moore’s double.
Although taking plenty of driving, the son of New Approach made a successful handicap bow when collaring Shakopee on the line.
PA
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