Forest Ranger, the gelding who started the day a colt, proves a cut above
Forest Ranger started the day as a colt but won Wednesday's Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket as a gelding after a pre-race inspection by the veterinary officer revealed something was most definitely amiss.
Richard Fahey's four-year-old was listed incorrectly as a colt in racecards but had in fact undergone a recent gelding operation which the trainer had failed to report.
Nevertheless, it appeared to have a beneficial effect as he scored on his seasonal reappearance for the third time in a row in the 1m1f Group 3 under Tony Hamilton.
Racing prominently behind the keen Frankuus, Hamilton unleashed Forest Ranger with just over two furlongs to go and, after a protracted duel with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Deauville, he stuck his nosebanded head in front to take the prize by half a length.
Sent off at 8-1, the big son of Lawman always looked likely to deny the Ryan Moore-ridden favourite and the first two came clear of Euginio, who stuck on well to take third.
On the failure to report the gelding operation, Fahey, who was winning the Earl of Sefton for the first time, said: "I only discovered the girls in the office hadn't declared he was a gelding this morning, but we now have the money to pay the fine if there is one."
There is indeed likely to be a fine, with BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey confirming: "It is the trainer's responsibility to inform Weatherbys about the change and in such circumstances this will go through a disciplinary panel and, generally, the penalty is a fine."
Earl of Sefton result and replay
On future plans for Forest Ranger, Fahey added: "We took him for an awayday gallop the other day and it's obviously done the business. I don't know where we'll go now as I expected him to need the run, but I would have to think of races like the Eclipse after that."
Published on 18 April 2018inReports
Last updated 19:16, 18 April 2018
- Beverley: 'She didn’t have a sweat mark on her' - Jayvee storms to 16-1 debut success for Brian Ellison
- Catterick: 'It’s made a dramatic improvement' - Kevin Frost hails yard switch after saddling first turf Flat winner of 2024
- Perth: 'Next season will be so exciting' - Gold Cup dreams renewed for Sounds Russian after Listed success
- Ludlow: 'I didn't take a wrong turn so job done' - successful British tour for Patrick Mullins continues on Daddy Long Legs
- Epsom: 'He’s got to be a little bit silly to be at his best' - Dash aim for 'wild' winner Night On Earth
- Beverley: 'She didn’t have a sweat mark on her' - Jayvee storms to 16-1 debut success for Brian Ellison
- Catterick: 'It’s made a dramatic improvement' - Kevin Frost hails yard switch after saddling first turf Flat winner of 2024
- Perth: 'Next season will be so exciting' - Gold Cup dreams renewed for Sounds Russian after Listed success
- Ludlow: 'I didn't take a wrong turn so job done' - successful British tour for Patrick Mullins continues on Daddy Long Legs
- Epsom: 'He’s got to be a little bit silly to be at his best' - Dash aim for 'wild' winner Night On Earth