Growl likely to head east after first win in Listed company

Former handicapper Growl will most likely head east after proving that his second behind The Tin Man in the Qipco British Champions Sprint was no fluke by gaining his first success in Listed company in the 6f Wentworth Stakes.

Ridden by regular jockey Graham Lee, he scraped home by only a nose from Aeolus after the pair had a battle royale throughout the last hundred yards.

Results and analysis

It was Growl's third and biggest win in his first year racing for Richard Fahey who bought him for 38,000gns at Newmarket last autumn, and passed him on to Marwan Koukash, but his season isn't over yet.

"We have entered him for the big sprint in Hong Kong on December 11 and we will know in the next ten days or so whether he gets a nomination," said Fahey.

"He's a grand horse and he was unlucky not to win the Stewards Cup, if he'd had half a draw he would have won that, and then I thought he was sure to win the Ayr Gold Cup but he didn't. After Hong Kong we might well take him over to Dubai for the Carnival."

Second Listed win

The other Listed race on the card was for fillies and mares and it was won in good style by Carnachy who came late under Jamie Spencer.

It was her second Listed victory of the season, and David Simcock, who trains her for St Albans Bloodstock, said: "That's her. She won a Listed race early on but wasn't good enough for Group events. She will be off to stud now."

Unruly

What you see isn't always what you get, for anyone watching the pre-race antics of Victory Angel prior to the second 6f juvenile maiden, you would have put a line through his chance straight away.

Although he looked really well in the paddock, he wasn't keen to leave it, and then once he got out onto the course he was reluctant to reach the start, so in the end Andrea Atzeni had to dismount and lead him down.

But he was a different proposition in the race, having been sent off joint-favourite at 2-1, he quickened up in good style to get off the mark at the third attempt.

Owned by Ziad Galadari, he is trained by Roger Varian said: "He was a bit like that in the summer and his first run was a non event. Although he was drawn ten and should have gone in the stalls last he was put in first as Andrea thought he might drop him. He should be a nice horse for next season."

Another to watch out for next season is the filly Rely On Me, who quickened up in good style under Oisin Murphy to land the first division.

She is trained by Andrew Balding who said: "She is a nice filly and one to look forward to next season."

Much improved

Oh This Is Us would be a candidate for being one of the most improved horses of the season – having won at Chelmsford off a mark of 70 in April, he scored for the fifth time this year when taking the 7f handicap off a mark of 101.

Ridden by Sean Levey for Team Wallop, he is trained by Richard Hannon whose assistant Tom Ward said: "He has done nothing but improve all season. This fast ground suits him and the only times that he hasn't run well were when he didn't get any luck in running."

Thought for the day

Freddy Tylicki was in the thoughts of most people. Paul Hanagan summed up the mood by saying that the weighing room was a sombre place.