The Saturday Social

Glorious sunshine provided the perfect backdrop on the Roodee for the Saturday Social Meeting in June 2025. The feature race of the day came in the 3:20pm Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap, with going conditions changing to Soft after Race 1.

Race 1 – British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive) (Class 2, 2yo, 6f)

Justifying favouritism in tidy style, Calico Blue (2/1F) ran out a ready winner of the opening race, coming home 1 ¼ lengths to the good for Aidan Keeley and the Roger Varian yard. Taking a keen hold in the early stages, Calico Blue was always up with the pace under Aidan Keeley, racing in the slipstream of Chairmanfourtimes (7/2) as the field made their way towards the home turn. Travelling notably well passing the two-furlong marker, Calico Blue still had a couple of lengths to find on the leaders, but after switching to a wider route provided some room to manoeuvre, Calico Blue came home strongly in the final furlong, taking the lead 100 yards out to readily see off his challengers. An apprentice with over 100 winners to his name, Aidan Keeley has already recorded some big victories in the saddle, including the 2022 Cambridgeshire aboard Majestic!

Race 2 – Precision Facades Handicap (Class 3, 3yo+, 5f)

A legend of the turf, Copper Knight (5/2JF) recorded his fifth course victory in the second race of the day, the 11-year-old veteran battling on well under Duran Fentiman to score by a short head for Tim Easterby. As is his wont, Copper Knight was keen to race prominently through the first couple of furlongs, nudged along up the inside rail as Rosenpur (4/1) led them through halfway. Moving sweetly on the bridle but waiting for the gaps to appear, Copper Knight really caught the eye around the turn, and after a pathway opened up quite nicely at the furlong pole, Copper Knight fought on bravely to hold off a plucky Nazron (11/1) in the shadows of the post. A team to be feared, Fentiman and Easterby also took some valuable sprints in 2012 with Body And Soul!

Race 3 – Horseradish Catering & Events Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3, 4yo+, 1m 2 ½f)

Enjoying the switch to handicap company, Castle Cove (8/1) got his season off to a flying start when taking the third race of the day, comfortably 1 ¾ lengths clear at the line to score for Cieren Fallon and William Haggas. Kept towards the rear for much of the contest, Castle Cove was made to wait by Cieren Fallon, still racing in a share of last place as Bubbles Wonky (7/1) led the field into the final quarter mile. Ridden along but managing to weave his way through, Castle Cove really found his stride in the home straight, staying on stoutly down the centre of the track to deny Grey Cuban (11/4F) a third Roodee victory. Connections familiar with winning, Jon & Julia Asbitt have also tasted Group 2 glory in recent years with Lilac Road and Tiber Flow!

Race 4 – Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap (Class 2, 3yo, 7 ½f)

Relatively unfancied in the market, Miami Matrix (17/2) smartly quashed any doubters when victorious in the feature race, coming home well by 1 ¾ lengths to land the spoils for Aiden Brookes and Hugo Palmer. Breaking away smartly, Miami Matrix was able to bag a prominent early position up the inside rail, racing a couple of lengths behind Tattie Bogle (12/1) and Milford (7/2) as they headed through the halfway point. Moving nicely in the slipstream of the leader, Miami Matrix looked the most likely to play a part in the finish around the home turn, and after finding a gap passing the cutaway gave him some much-needed wiggle room, seized the opportunity to score in style and provide Aiden Brookes with his 75^th winner in the saddle!

Race 5 – Going Is Good Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m)

A popular result for fans of The Beatles, Cavern Club (12/1) just did enough to take the top prize by a head in Race 5, ridden out by Callum Shepherd to score for the James Owen yard. Patiently ridden from the outset, Cavern Club brought up the rear with Wind Your Neck In (18/1) for much of the fifth race, racing just under ten lengths behind Roodee regular Dreams Adozen (4/1) as the field approached the final half mile. Pushed along around the outside of the chasing pack, Cavern Club readily pulled clear with Molten Sea (11/2) two furlongs out, and despite being made to work very hard in the closing stages, was always doing enough to get the job done in the hands of Callum Shepherd. Winning owners more associated with jumps racing, The Good Stock Syndicate have also won Grade 2s with Siog Geal and Dysart Enos in recent years!

Race 6 – London Essence Handicap (Class 3, 4yo+, 6f)

Recording the most impressive victory of the day, Solar Aclaim (4/1JF) put up a remarkable showing to take the penultimate race by 3 lengths, flying down the straight to score for trainer Julie Camacho and provide a double for Cieren Fallon. In touch with the leaders after a furlong despite being slowly away, Solar Aclaim travelled strongly through the early fractions, racing a length behind multiple course-winning trio Paws For Thought (4/1JF), Dickieburd (11/1), and Hyperfocus (20/1). Galloping with ease around Castle Bend, Solar Aclaim soon found himself in Position A upon entering the straight, and after moving out towards the middle of the track, pressed on powerfully in the final furlong to score in style. A trainer with a knack for developing young sprinters, Julie Camacho also won two Group 1s with the speedy Shaquille in 2023!

Race 7 – Summer Saturday On 28^th June Handicap (Class 5, 4yo+, 1m 4 ½f)

Springing a big surprise, Polling Day (33/1) recorded his first victory on the track for over four years when taking the finale by storm, the 7-year-old sticking on stoutly by 2 ½ lengths for Elizabeth Gale and trainer Bernard Llewellyn. Pushed along in the early stages, it looked like it could be a struggle for Polling Day in the final race, racing towards the back as Red Derek (28/1) and Amancio (11/8F) headed the field. Gathering stride and making headway through the halfway point, Polling Day eventually found a nice rhythm under Elizabeth Gale, circling the leading bunch into third place with three furlongs to go. Rounding the turn and holding his own, Polling Day did his best work at the finish, staying on strongly in the final furlong to hold off Giselles Defence (9/2) in second and provide Elizabeth Gale with her first win on the Roodee!

Race report by Adam Perkins