Stamina was the order of the day for the Oktoberfest Season Finale, with rain-soaked ground proving to be a gamechanger. The feature race came in the 4:15pm Deepbridge Capital Handicap, and ground conditions drifted from Soft to Heavy.
Race 1 – Cvam Limited Nursery Handicap (Class 5, 2yo, 7f)
A horse in fine fettle, Dubai Time (100/30) did just enough to secure her second win of the season in the opening race of the day, scrambling home by a short head under Luke Morris for trainer Hugo Palmer. Rousted along from an early stage, Dubai Time initially made hard work of it through the opening couple of furlongs, still under a ride as Flybar (22/1) led the field towards the home turn. Under pressure but responding well for Luke Morris’s urgings, Dubai Time found a nice gap passing the two-furlong marker, coaxed nicely into position with Kunaa (13/2) now occupying the lead. Now in the clear, Dubai Time saved her best work for the finish, staying on strongly to hold off a late run from Crazee Icon (5/2F) towards the line. Enjoying another solid campaign, Luke Morris is now up to 86 winners for the 2025 season, earning over £1.1 million in prize money!
Race 2 – Nashville Soccer Club EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4, 2yo, 6f)
Defying a lack of support in the betting market, Trust Amy (12/1) showed a marked upturn in form to take the second race, landing the spoils by half a length for Harrison Shaw and Gary Hanmer. Always in touch, Trust Amy occupied a share of third place for much of Race 2, racing along the inside rail in the slipstream of early leader Callahan (9/4F). Still apparently full of running as the field made their way around the home turn, Trust Amy looked to be waiting for the gaps to appear with two furlongs to go, latching onto the leaders as Hello It’s Me (7/2) made a move. Switched off the rail passing the furlong marker, Trust Amy sprung into life once in the clear, and despite the best efforts of Callahan, the Starman filly had too much in the tank. Seen more on the jumping scene, Gary Hanmer also won a Veterans Chase Final this year with The Flier Begley!
Race 3 – CAA Stellar Selling Stakes (Class 4, 3yo+, 7 ½f)
A vital winner in the battle for the Bobby McAlpine Trophy, Brighton Boy (12/1) pulled out all the stops for Callum Hutchinson in the third race, holding on by a neck to score for the Andrew Balding yard. Leading from flag-fall, Brighton Boy set a steady pace for much of the way, maintaining a narrow advantage over Empirestateofmind (5/1) and previous course winner Al Shabab Storm (2/1F) through the halfway stage. Still on the bridle as he led the field around the final bend, Brighton Boy looked very comfortable under Callum Hutchinson, swinging into the straight with only Empirestateofmind close enough to challenge. Ridden for more at the furlong pole, Brighton Boy was made to work to secure the victory in the closing stages, battling all the way up the run in but just doing enough to see off Empirestateofmind close home. A team in form, Balding and Hutchinson also took Listed success in Germany this year with Miss Information!
Race 4 – Racing Welfare Handicap (Class 4, 3yo+, 5 ½f)
A familiar face on the Roodee, Paws For Thought (9/4) secured his sixth win at the track when running out a taking winner of Race 4, staying on strongly through to mud to score for Charlie Maggs and Donald McCain. Racing towards the front of the chasing pack, Paws For Thought was made to bide his time in the early stages, sitting around eight lengths behind as runaway leader Secret Mistral (15/2) led them through halfway. With just a couple of furlongs left to negotiate, Paws For Thought briefly looked to have a lot of work to do around the home turn, still a fair way behind as Secret Mistral made her way into the straight. However, rallying well once ridden past the furlong marker, Paws For Thought quickly cut back the deficit, taking the lead half a furlong out before kicking clear in style to provide young Charlie Maggs with his third career winner on the Roodee!
Race 5 – Deepbridge Capital Handicap (Class 3, 3yo+, 5f)
Another to defy the betting market, Al Hussar (14/1) rallied well to land the spoils for the Grant Tuer yard in the fifth race, getting up by a neck to provide Harrison Shaw with a double on the day. Always in touch but having to be nudged along to do so, Al Hussar didn’t make it easy for his jockey through the opening half mile, sticking with Copper Knight (6/1) as Smart Vision (9/2) fought for the lead. Switching out wide around the home turn, Al Hussar gradually started to find his feet with a couple of furlongs to go, latching onto the leading trio as Mc Loven (17/2) began to fade. Now with clear daylight, Al Hussar readily took advantage of the pace collapse in the final furlong, running on straight and true down the middle of the track to snatch victory in the shadows of the post. Ever consistent, Harrison Shaw has now matched last year’s tally of 15 winners!
Race 6 – Tribal Society Handicap (Class 5, 3yo+, 1m 6 ½f)
A winner on soft over jumps, Dino Bellagio (4/1) showed a real liking for the mud when running out an easy winner of the sixth race, staying on strongly to secure doubles for Charlie Maggs and Donald McCain. In a race where it paid to be up front, Dino Bellagio had the race to himself for much of the way, setting a sedate pace through the opening mile and racing a couple of lengths ahead of Run Of Luck (15/2) heading towards the final six furlongs. Having barely broken sweat, Dino Bellagio soon had most of his rivals in trouble on his way through the final half mile, with only Dance Time (22/1) looking likely to make a forward move through the tough conditions. Rounding the turn with a commanding lead, Dino Bellagio readily put the race to bed down the home straight, powering home through the mud to score impressively. A nice winner for connections, Nick Brown Racing also won a Listed hurdle at Market Rasen in 2015 with Cloonacool!
Race 7 – Lord Mayor’s Fireworks Extravaganza Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 4, 3yo+, 1m 2 ½f)
Continuing the theme of doubles, Empire Of Light (3/1) provided Grant Tuer with his second victory of the day when an impressive winner of the finale, ridden out by Oliver Stammers to score by 1 ½ lengths. Fastest out of the gates, Empire Of Light quickly found his way to the front before the first bend, setting a steady tempo at the head of affairs with market leader Jupiter Ammon (9/4F) close up in behind. Nudged into the bridle entering the final half mile of the contest, it was soon a two-horse race as the field made their way towards the home turn, Empire Of Light and Jupiter Ammon locking horns as the remainder began to fade. However, responding well for pressure passing the two-furlong marker, Empire Of Light was soon in command, staying on strongly towards the line to thwart a valiant Jupiter Ammon. A trainer making his mark, Grant Tuer also won the Great St Wilfrid Handicap in 2023 with Sophia’s Starlight!
Race report by Adam Perkins
