'Eight winners from 12 runners' - red-hot Crisfords enjoyed a memorable week

The Racing Post's awards honour the best (and sometimes worst) performances and raise talking points from the last seven days of racing. This week's winners are . . .

Trainer of the week

Simon and Ed Crisford

It has been a week to remember for joint-trainers Simon and Ed Crisford and the pair are deserved winners of this award having yielded eight winners from 12 runners since last Monday.

To add to that, they're also operating at a strike-rate of 56 per cent in the last fortnight.

Star Player, who got off the mark at the fourth time of asking, began their impressive run of form when beating Hurtle by a short head at Epsom on Tuesday.

Thursday brought an across-the-card treble when Saleymm returned to winning ways at Haydock, Another Romance won at Salisbury and Croupier landed prize-money of more than £25,000 in the Racing League at Windsor.

Just when it seemed it could not get any better for the father-son partnership, West Wind Blows won the Group 3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at Longchamp to end their sensational week on a high.

Jockey of the week

Danny Tudhope

Another strong week in the saddle for Danny Tudhope moved him closer to a century of winners in 2022, a figure he has reached in three of the last five years.

The rider's week was headlined with a double at Ascot on Saturday, when he partnered Fresh and Whenthedealinsdone to handicap success. It was the second time in as many starts that Tudhope had ridden Fresh to success after he struck over course and distance in the International Stakes.

Due to the nature of his win in the valuable handicap over the weekend, the James Fanshawe-trained gelding was cut to 6-1 joint-favourite (from 10) for the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup by Paddy Power.

Before his weekend brace, the jockey helped maintain Leitzel's unbeaten run at Haydock, while one win each on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday saw him close the week with six winners, making him a worthy recipient of this award.

Performance of the week

Minzaal

Owen Burrows continued his stellar year as Minzaal finally landed a first Group 1 victory in the Betfair Sprint Cup.

Minzaal: on the way to a dominant Sprint Cup victory on SaturdayCredit: Grossick Racing

The Mehmas colt has come close to top-level success on a number of occasions, with his second to Highfield Princess in the Prix Maurice de Gheest being the most recent attempt.

The fast surface allowed Minzaal to travel well off the pace before finding a gap inside the final furlong to power clear of his rivals and finish three and three-quarter lengths clear of Emaraaty Ana.

Juvenile of the week

Naval Power

The Charlie Appleby-trained two-year-old did his reputation no harm with a second successive Listed race victory in the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock, taking his record to 4-4.

The son of Teofilo experienced a step up to a mile for the first time and raced keenly before hacking up inside the final furlong, pulling a length and a quarter clear of Roger Teal's Dancing Magic.

Naval Power: the Godolphin-owned colt struck for a fourth time on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Tougher assignments are expected in the autumn, with the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes being a strong possibility. The Godolphin-owned colt is second favourite at 3-1 with most firms, behind only Little Big Bear in the market.

Upset of the week

Broadspear

Some punters may well have avoided the mile novice at Chepstow on Tuesday (3.30), when the Roger Varian-trained Broadspear was 1-16 to beat five rivals.

However, the three-year-old suffered a shock defeat by 11-2 shot Painless Potter, who ended a run of 15 starts without a win for trainer Shaun Lycett.

Although defeat for Broadspear ranks him as one of the shortest-priced losers in history, Royal Forest's record in 1948, when he was beaten at 1-25, remains intact.

Read more from The Last Word . . .

Cook Review: record-breaking effort from Minzaal on quick ground as Owen Burrows team shines (Members' Club)

Racing Post Ratings: 'Best figure since Harry Angel in 2017' – Minzaal makes his mark in Sprint Cup (Members' Club)

View From The Saddle: 'Savvy move after slow start ensured Mostahdaf was always on the front foot' (Members' Club)

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