William Buick picked the right partner in the Craven Stakes here on Thursday when he steered Master Of The Seas to a three-quarter length success over stable companion La Barrosa, and he now faces another tricky choice between Master Of The Seas and One Ruler in the 2,000 Guineas on 1 May.
If he were to base his decision solely on the latest odds, Buick would surely opt for One Ruler, the runner-up in last season’s Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster and a general 6-1 shot for the Guineas. This year’s race is betting more like a handicap, though, and a price of around 10-1 about Master Of The Seas suggests there may well be very little between the two.
Charlie Appleby, who trains all three, suggested as much, having seen Buick time his run ideally after being stuck among horses for much of the race.
“Going into a Guineas on the back of what that horse has achieved today, it might be hard for William to get off him, as he has race fitness on his side,” Appleby said. “I’ve been pleased with One Ruler’s preparation as well and if all goes well, he’s on target for the Guineas, so obviously it’s a nice position to be in.”
Like Appleby’s Masar, who took the Craven in 2018 and the Derby at Epsom less than two months later, Master Of The Seas was beaten at odds-on in Dubai a few weeks before his return to Newmarket.
“Master Of The Seas was the class act in the race,” he said. “I was never disappointed with the run in Meydan as our eye was firmly on a European campaign. He flew through the Dip and [William] said once he hit the rising ground, he picked up well and went through the line strong.”
Oxted, last year’s July Cup winner, was surprisingly beaten on his return to action in the Abernant Stakes, a race he won last season when the Group Three contest was staged in early June. Ryan Moore, replacing the injured Cieren Fallon in the saddle, hit the front with over a furlong to run but was swamped by the fast-finishing Summerghand a few strides from the line.
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Greg Wood’s Friday tips
Ayr 1.00 Stepney Causeway 1.30 Le Cheval Noir 2.05 Eskendash 2.40 Didonato 3.15 Schiehallion Munro 3.50 Dino Velvet 4.27 Always Resolute
Newbury 1.10 Object 1.40 Came From The Dark 2.15 Imperium (nb) 2.50 Beautiful Bertie (nap) 3.25 Hurricane Lane 4.00 Darlectable You 4.35 At A Pinch 5.05 Maajdah
Fontwell Park 1.20 Morfee 1.50 Coolanly 2.25 Nye Bevan 3.00 Ocean Cove 3.35 Good News 4.10 Diligent 4.45 Independence
Bath 4.40 Cometh The Man 5.10 Hollow Steel 5.40 Rosie Powers 6.10 Warne’s Army 6.40 Tasfeeq 7.10 Mack The Knife 7.40 Mumtaaz
Exeter 4.50 Kilmington Rose 5.20 Seaside Girl 5.50 Jarveys Plate 6.20 Delight Of Dubai 6.50 Espressino 7.20 So Socksy 7.50 Huelgoat
The seven-year-old winner is more familiar as a high-class sprint handicapper – this was his first Group-race success – but Roger Teal, Oxted’s trainer, is confident his gelding will return to his best as the summer goes on.
“I’m gutted we didn’t win but we can get him back,” Teal said. “We will have a look at Royal Ascot and we might look at the King’s Stand [over five furlongs]. The way he was travelling when he ran [at Ascot] on Champions Day [in October], if it was over five, he would have won.”
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Presenting Percy dies
Owner Philip Reynolds paid an emotional tribute to Presenting Percy as he confirmed his ‘horse of a lifetime’ has died after suffering from a blood infection.
The 10-year-old looked a superstar in the making when producing a scintillating display in the 2018 RSA Chase – his second Cheltenham Festival success, having won the Pertemps Final 12 months earlier.
He went on to win a second Galmoy Hurdle the following season, but could finish only eighth when favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and never quite managed to rediscover his former brilliance.
After moving from Pat Kelly’s yard to Gordon Elliott last summer, however, Presenting Percy got back on the winning trail when beating multiple Grade One winners Kemboy and Monalee in a Listed event at Thurles – his 11th career victory.
An eighth-placed finish in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas proved to be his final start – as he was ruled out of Cheltenham and later the Grand National at Aintree because of a leg infection, which ultimately cost him his life.
Reynolds said: “It’s with great sadness I have to confirm that we lost a three-month battle against infection and have had no option but to put Presenting Percy to sleep this afternoon.
“Percy was a special athlete with a personality all of his own. He took us places we dreamt of, and we always looked forward to having him with us during his downtime.
“We are deeply hurting at his loss and feel so sorry for so many connected with him – Tom Costello, from whom I bought Percy, Pat Kelly, Kim and the team who made him, Gerry and all in Athenry who loved him, Gordon Elliott, Mary and the crew at Cullentra, and of course [jockey] Davy Russell – who gave our family three memorable Cheltenham days, two with our star Percy.” PA Media