'It means a lot' - Paul D'Arcy celebrates winner with penultimate runner

Wednesday marks the final day in the training ranks for Paul D’Arcy and his penultimate runner proved a timely winner with Cheat striking at Southwell.

The Newmarket trainer and jockey John Egan teamed up for Irish 2,000 Guineas glory with Indian Haven in 2003 and they combined again on Tuesday with Cheat, who won the mile handicap by a length and a quarter.

A delighted D’Arcy braved the cold weather to celebrate the winner and offered one word in particular to describe his forthcoming life after training.

Cheat: back in the winner's enclosure after victory under John Egan

Asked what beckons after Wednesday, D’Arcy said: “Enjoyment! I’m going to take my grandchildren on holiday and play a lot of golf.”

On the winner, he added: “It means a lot and it’s very fitting to have John on board as we’ve had a great association. I must thank my wife Sue too, who has backed me all the way.

“Cheat has had a few physical issues, which we’ve now resolved, and he ran his best race the other day at Chelmsford so we were quite hopeful.”

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Knight Of Kings, who finished eighth on debut at Wolverhampton last month, will be D’Arcy’s final runner in division one of the 7f maiden (4.10) at Kempton on Wednesday.

D’Arcy said: “Maidens are always difficult to win but he’s a very nice horse and one for the future. He’s capable of winning races this year so hopefully he can run well.”

Welcome boost

Work rider Zoe Waters broke her leg in a gallops accident on Tuesday morning but it was hoped progressive sprinter Mulzim, who she occasionally partners on the gallops, raised her spirits with victory in the feature 5f handicap.

The seven-year-old, owned by Victoria Taylor & Family, has raced solely on the all-weather since joining Bedfordshire trainer Mike Murphy and took his record at Southwell to four wins from eight starts when defeating Duke Of Firenze by a length and a half under Daniel Muscutt.

Murphy said: “It’s been an up and down 24 hours as we had a winner at Chelmsford yesterday, then Zoe broke her leg this morning followed by a winner here – hopefully Mulzim has lifted her spirits a little.

“We’re over the moon with him as he bled the last day when looking a likely winner. It’s great to get him back on track and we’re hoping he could be a nice horse on the turf in the spring."

Back for more

A first visit to Southwell worked a treat for Daafr last week and he will bid for a quickfire Fibresand hat-trick on Thursday after landing the 7f handicap.

The five-year-old was a smooth two-length winner under Cam Hardie, continuing the fine form of Antony Brittain who has saddled five winners from 23 runners in the past fortnight.

Hardie said: “Daafr is sharp out the stalls and has a good cruising speed which is key here. He's in again on Thursday so I didn't want to completely empty the tank.

“Antony’s horses are flying. They tend to come good at this time of year and there’s a few improving and others that are back to their last winning mark.”

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