Varian heaps praise on work-rider Denaro as Cape Byron justifies favouritism

Work-rider Mick Denaro was the talk of the hallowed turf in the winner’s enclosure at Ascot after Roger Varian heaped praise on the man who has had a pivotal role in the landing of two notable Wokingham gambles.

The second of his handicap heroics came with Cape Byron, who Denaro felt would be suited by dropping to sprint distances on the basis of his home work and could now be set for a tilt at the Darley July Cup at Newmarket after landing the 26-runner handicap.

Cape Byron burst to the front approaching the final furlong and held on well to defeat runner-up Tis Marvellous by a length and a half to justify strong favouritism, sealing a final day double for Varian, Andrea Atzeni and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum after Defoe's Hardwicke success.

Bet365 shortened progressive five-year-old Cape Byron to a best-price 20-1 (from 40) for the Group 1 contest on July 13.

Varian said: "I have to thank Mick Denaro who rides most of Cape Byron's work. He fed me this idea even before he came here and won the Victoria Cup, and Mick used to ride Laddies Poker Two who won the Wokingham.

"He told me he'd not had a similar feel off a horse since Laddies Poker Two when he rode Cape Byron, and thought I was running him over too far. He was right.

"This horse so deceives. He travelled so strongly in the Victoria Cup but just held on at the finish which gave us plenty of confidence for this race.

"Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has been very patient with him and his entry in the July Cup becomes very tempting. He carried a lot of weight and was very impressive – it was the performance of a Group horse."

Cape Byron (yellow, middle) hits the front under Atzeni in the WokinghamCredit: Bryn Lennon

Denaro's first key role came with one of the most notable handicap hotpot winners in Royal Ascot history when Laddies Poker Two justified an almighty gamble in 2010.

Nine years on and it was her trainer Jeremy Noseda bowing out from the training ranks in the same race with his final runner Cenotaph finishing 20th.

One last debrief and handshake with jockey Ryan Moore, an embrace with groom Shaun Murphy and a pat for the horse signalled the end of a successful 23-year career.

Noseda said: "I would have liked it to end in a dream, but life doesn't happen like that very often. It's the final day on the job and these things happen in racing. You get beat more often than you win.

"When you're happy and know you've made the right decision, how can you be emotional? I've had fabulous times, I lived a dream, but when I said I'd leave with a smile on my face – you can see me here now, there's a smile on my face.

"It's time for some time out, relax, see where I'm going, and then see what the future holds. You should never close any doors – racing has been good to me so I have no complaints."

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