Ibiza Classics Evening

A fun-filled evening with a six-race card and a post-racing concert from Ibiza In Symphony, the Roodee was a hub of energy for this year’s Ibiza Classics Evening. The feature race of the day came at 7:50pm in the Chester Handicap (Class 3), with ground conditions Good To Soft throughout.

Race 1 – Ibiza In Symphony EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive) (Class 4, 2yo, 6f)

Justifying strong market support, Brighton Boy (4/6F) took the opening contest in tidy style under Jason Watson, staying on well to score by 3 ½ lengths for the Andrew Balding stable. Always to the fore, Brighton Boy broke smartly away from the starting stalls and continued to race prominently under Watson through the opening half mile, sitting no more than a length off early leader Qaseem (11/2). Travelling kindly on the bridle with a couple of furlongs to go, Brighton Boy switched to the outside of Qaseem before powering on into the lead around the home turn, storming clear down the home straight to record a very taking victory. Successful here last year with Loaded Gun, winning owner Michael Blencowe also took a Premier Handicap over jumps in 2022 with Thyme White!

Race 2 – Roodee Nursery Handicap (Class 4, 2yo, 7f)

Overcoming a troubled passage in the final furlong, Dukes Of Haather (11/2) showed real guts and determination to take Race 2, gamely landing first prize for Adrian Paul Keatley and providing Jason Watson with a quickfire double. Seemingly content to race towards the rear, Jason Watson kept Dukes Of Haather quiet through the first four furlongs of the second race, racing along the inside rail in the slipstream of Moon Sniper (4/1). Running into trouble despite travelling strongly, Dukes Of Haather tried his level best to find a gap at the furlong marker, his rivals continuing to box him in. However, finding a clear pathway half a furlong from the line, Dukes Of Haather kicked on strongly under pressure, driving his way to the front before going on to score a shade cosily by 1 ¼ lengths for the Keatley Owners Group, who also took a Listed race in France last month with Francisco’s Piece!

Race 3 – Excell Supply Handicap (Class 4, 4yo+, 5 ½f)

Recording a second course victory in a row, Hyperfocus (17/2) battled all the way to the line to score by just a nose in the third race, taking the spoils under Sean Kirrane for the in-form Tim Easterby yard. Adopting similar tactics to his recent victory here in June, Hyperfocus broke sharply and challenged for the lead during the first quarter of a mile, racing out wide of Dickieburd (2/1F) as the field remained well-bunched in behind. Coming under fierce pressure around Castle Bend and into the straight, Hyperfocus briefly looked to be treading water with a furlong and a half to race, Dickieburd now asserting out in front. However, finding his second wind, Hyperfocus rallied strongly in the final furlong, gradually pulling back the leader before getting his nose in front right on the line, marking up his tenth career victory under rules and taking him over £180K in career prize money!

Race 4 – Chester Handicap (Class 3, 3yo+, 1m 2 ½f)

Showing a sharp turn of foot in the final furlong, Grey Cuban (11/2) stuck on nicely under Lewis Edmunds to take the feature race of the day, running on strongly down the centre of the track to score by ½ a length for local trainer Hugo Palmer. Settling into a prominent position from the outset, Grey Cuban sat a couple of lengths off early leaders Bodorgan (14/1) and Dream Harder (7/1) through the opening mile, ridden along to maintain his position as the tempo lifted with just over two furlongs left to negotiate. Despite briefly looking unlikely to be able to mount a challenge, Grey Cuban soon gathered enough momentum in the final furlong to bridge the gap on Dream Harder, eventually going on to sneak ahead in the dying strides. With a career-best tally of 47 winners, 2023 was a brilliant year for Lewis Edmunds, culminating in a Listed victory aboard Dancing Gemini!

Race 5 – Camden Town Brewery Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 7 ½f)

Marking up a treble for winning connections, Transitioning (6/1) led from pillar to post when successful in the penultimate race of the night, coming home 1 ¼ lengths to the good for Jason Watson and Andrew Balding. Bursting out the gates and straight into an established lead, Transitioning set a strong gallop out in front through the half-mile point of the contest, chased closest of all by the hat-trick seeking Society Lion (9/1) as course regular Evocative Spark (4/1) brought up the rear under Franny Norton. Nudged along to maintain his lead around the final turn, Transitioning was resilience personified in the home straight, keeping on tenaciously in the final furlong to score for the second time this season, with Evocative Spark flying home to fill the runner-up spot. Another winner for Balding, the Kingsclere trainer also took a Group 3 at Newmarket earlier in the day with smart filly Flora Of Bermuda!

Race 6 – Seat Unique Handicap (Class 5, 3yo+, 7f)

Making light of a much-reduced handicap mark, American Star (7/1) showed a remarkable upturn in form in the final race, impressively scooting clear up the run-in to score by 2 ¼ lengths for James Sullivan and Ruth Carr. Slowly away and racing in second-last place for much of the finale, American Star looked to have a lot of work to do from a very early stage, ridden along to keep up as Danzart (10/1) led the field past the three-furlong marker. Switched out wide as the prominent racers came under pressure, American Star still looked to be in a spot of bother around the home turn, shoved along to stay competitive. However, upon entering the home straight, American Star soon made rapid headway down the centre of the track, circling the field with a remarkable late surge before scoring decisively in the final 100 yards, marking up a 21^st winner of the year for Carr and Sullivan!

Race report by Adam Perkins