Doncaster Double Header For Apprentices
Racing returned to Doncaster on Saturday with the opening day of the turf season, which also saw the start of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Series, supported by White Rose Saddlery.
As is the case in recent years, the race divided at the declaration stage meaning there were two opportunities for the riders to score points. The 1m2f races took place on ground that was officially described as good to soft.
In the first division, Emery Down reared as the stalls opened and as a result, ended up at the back of the pack.
Bownder, partnered by Olivia Tubb lead the field, with Avatar Jet and Harry Smith sitting just in second around the first bend. Sassy Glory, Blackwater Lilly and Up The Jazz followed behind in a line of three.
Fifteen lengths covered the field as they came out of the bend and into the home straight, with little change to the order at the front.
Bownder and Avatar Jet increased their lead on the remaining runners to about three lengths until the final three furlongs, when the pack started to close in on the leading pair. Expressionless, ridden by Harry Vigors went into the lead but as they approached the final furlong, Mao Shang Wong, who was building his momentum, was produced by Connor Whiteley in a perfectly timed run to win by a neck from Glint Of Light and Ashley Lewis, with Expressionless staying on for third under Harry Vigors.
In division two, It’s Only Fun and Tom Kiely-Marshall bagged the inside rail, with Dancing Tiger, ridden by Owen Lewis, running keenly on his outside. Hashtagnotions and Three Dons raced in behind, with Bearwith slightly wider.
Coming out of the bend, the field, which was more tightly packed than the previous race, headed off the rail towards the middle of the course, still being led by It’s Only Fun, who stayed there until the 3 furlong pole.
Dancing Tiger was then urged on by Owen Lewis to take a narrow lead as the runners fanned out across the track, splitting into two groups. Dancing Tiger was nearer the stands side rail and Golspie laid down a challenge on the far rail, but it was Dancing Tiger who managed to extend his lead to win by a length from Golspie, with Recobella and Donagh Murphy finishing in third.
After round 1, Owen Lewis and Connor Whiteley share the top spot on the leader board, with Ashley Lewis and Cian Horgan both in joint 3rd with 9 points.
The next race in the series takes place at Ripon on Thursday 16th April.