'I love this race' - Intrinsic Bond gives Beasley third win in Great St Wilfrid
Saturday: Ripon
Connor Beasley continued his love affair with the Great St Wilfrid Handicap when Intrinsic Bond provided him with his third success and Tracy Waggott with the biggest victory of her training career.
The jockey's decision to switch to the near side from an awkward draw proved crucial as he stormed to a length success.
It enhanced Beasley's fine record in Ripon's feature race, which also includes three seconds and a fourth on Intrinsic Bond last season.
"I love this race," said Beasley. "Tracy doesn't get as much credit as she deserves with the results she gets. She's a fantastic lady. I'm glad to ride her a decent winner. She's known me since I was a baby.
"I was drawn on probably the wrong side but I had to go where the pace was. He jumped and travelled really well. Once I asked the question he stretched.
"This is what it's all about. I've been lucky to get on the right horses on the right days. Long may that continue."
Waggott, who has trained since 2005, was just as thrilled to give the jockey a big day, and said: "I used to babysit him when he was little. He used to come with us when I drove the wagon for Richard Guest.
"He used to make me coffee when we used to go all the way to Newton Abbot and back. He was an amateur with me for a little while. It really does mean the world.
"It's hard to believe. I was worried about the ground and the horse sweated and got worked up before the race. He's a bit of a livewire but he always gives 110 per cent. He was fourth in this race last year, so I knew he had a chance."
Pillo perfect
Prince Of Pillo could be set for loftier targets for the rest of the campaign after he maintained his unbeaten record with an impressive success in the Ripon Hornblower Conditions Stakes.
Winning rider Callum Rodriguez said: "He has so much speed and did that easily. He was having a look at the big crowd, but he won that at half-speed. The dominance he's shown means you have to think about Pattern races."
A return to Ripon for the Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy could be next for Prince Of Pillo, according to owners Middleham Park Racing's syndicate manager Mike Prince.
"He has lots of speed and seems to have come on a lot since his debut win; that was a valiant effort," he said. "It'll either be back here, but it might come a touch too soon or the Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr as his options."
Oasis shines again
Track specialist Garden Oasis bounced back to his best when bravely defending his crown in the mile handicap to make it four wins at the Yorkshire course, and trainer Tim Easterby's third successive victory in the race.
Winning rider David Allan said: "He absolutely thrives around this place and the most important thing was just to jump from the gates fast. He was soon on the front end and dug in well. Whatever it is he does, Tim [Easterby, trainer] has his horses flying around here."
Allan and Easterby doubled up when Marbuzet won the concluding 1m4f handicap.
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Published on 13 August 2022inReports
Last updated 18:20, 13 August 2022
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