YESTERDAY’S Jersey Race Club season opener featured doubles for trainer Alyson Malzard and jockeys Adam Jones and Vince Slattery.
The opening race of the season, six days behind schedule after the Easter Monday meeting was postponed, had six runners in the IRB Memorial Hurdle, with the Vicki Lucas-trained Groomsman ridden by Vince Slattery taking the honours.
The winner is unbeaten over hurdles at Les Landes and this was probably his best display of jumping as in his previous outings he has been prone to more than the odd error. Jockey Slattery eased the six-year-old past Koka Fast to win by two lengths, with top weight Off Minor ten lengths back in third.
Disappointment of the race was the Guernsey-trained Anemix who, despite being sent off favourite, never looked like getting involved in the finish and eventually only beat rank outsider Opera Villevert home. No doubt the grey gelding will be seen to better effect when given a more enterprising ride.
Slattery then took the second race of the meeting on the 16/1 shock winner Wall Street Runner. The Joan Le Brocq-trained six-year-old mare stormed past long time leader Top Pursuit approaching the furlong marker to win by a length from Top Pursuit who stayed on well to hold off Khuzdar by half a length. This was the first in a series of three races sponsored by S G Hambros with points awarded for the first six places in each of the three races, with the series winner receiving a Trophy plus additional prize money of £1,000.
Feature race of the afternoon, The On Course Bookmakers Plate, saw the Alyson Malzard-trained Mobus Wan lead from pillar to post under jockey Adam Jones, eventually winning by an easy four lengths from newcomer to the local racing scene Buckie Massa with Perfect Portrait a further one and a half lengths back in third. The winner has displayed more than a bit of temperament in the past but he appears to be a reformed character these days, whilst the runner up, who was purchased out of the Sylvester Kirk yard, looks a promising recruit to the local racing scene.
Malzard and Jones completed their double on the afternoon’s card when Jilvaro cruised home to an impressive five-length win from stable companion Sans Sa Dame in the C I Racing and Hunt Club Handicap. The first two home are both French imports and look useful recruits to the Malzard team. Silver Silence ran an encouraging race to finish third as this was his first attempt over this type of trip.
Final race of the afternoon The Historic Handicap produced the best finish as the Tony Le Brocq-trained Treat Me Wild just held off the challenge of Top Level in a driving finish to win by a head with another newcomer Lord of The Wing half a length back in third. The winner had failed to show much ability in her races last season but her connections patience has finally been rewarded and she could well find another race or two coming her way during the course of this season.
Although the attendance was well below the norm for the first meeting of the season those present will have no doubt been impressed with the upgraded facilities at Les Landes which will hopefully be sampled by a larger number at the next meeting on Sunday 13 April.
Article posted on 31st March, 2008 - 12.00am
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