UK raiders often have a fitness advantage over the locally trained horses at the start of the season and that was certainly the case at the opening Jersey Race Club meet at Les Landes yesterday, although Island trainer Stephen Arthur saddled three winners.
English visitor Master Rattle, trained by Jane Southcombe and ridden by Adam Jones, showed the benefit of having had a race at Lingfield in late February to land the feature event of the day, The On-Course Bookmakers Plate.
Taking the lead just over a furlong out the winner held on gamely by one-and-a-half lengths from Wall Street Runner, with the favourite, Perfect Portrait, a further length back in third.
The season started an hour later than scheduled as stewards waited for jockeys whose flights had been delayed by the heavy fog, but that failed to deter the punters who turned out in strength, with around 2,000 watching the five races.
The opening race, The IRB Memorial Handicap Hurdle, went to Guernsey-trained Jaskini, ridden by Howard Ephgrave for his father Michael.
This was the first race run over the new French style hurdles that the JRC are using this season.
The winner tracked hot-favourite Shinbang at the back of the field for most of the race before jumping into the lead at the second last hurdle and coasting home to a 12-length success, despite carrying ten pounds overweight, from Shinbang with Keep On Running, who had made most of the running, back in third.
Shinbang ran a disappointing race, especially as his task on paper looked easier than expected - not only was the winner carrying overweight but due to Keep on Running’s intended jockey arriving late his replacement pilot put up no less than 15 pounds extra.
Ephgrave benefited from the late arrival of Last Eclipse’s booked rider to step in for a winning spare ride in the second race, the first of the afternoon’s three winners for trainer Stephen Arthur.
The seven-year-old mare won four races last season and continues to improve - winning by five lengths from UK raider Giko, with Khuzdar two lengths back in third.
Despite carrying 19 pounds overweight Khuzdar ran an eye-catching race.
Having been held up at the back of the field for much of the one-and-half-mile distance, the six-year-old gelding made good late progress being eased before the line when assured of third.
He surely must have won if he’d been carrying his allotted weight! The second winner for Arthur was provided by Off Minor.
Jockey Tony Procter held off a sustained challenge by Minnie’s Mystery to win by a head in the closest finish of the day, with Palala River running her normal game race a further two-and-a-half lengths back in third.
Favourite backers soon knew their fate as Crossways was first to come under pressure and dropped away tamely, beaten a further ten lengths in fourth.
The final race rewarded Arthur’s faith in the enigmatic Aqua Tiger.
The five-year-old gelding, who in the past has not only shown signs of ability but, more often than not, signs of temperament, finally got his head in front under strong urging from Proctor, ahead of Snow Lark with Noble Reef back in third.
The queues at the bookies’ boards seemed to indicate that it was not only the trainer who had kept the faith.
A good start to the season, with the next meeting on Sunday 17 April.
Article posted on 29th March, 2005 - 12.00am
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