Late drama as Siege Of Boston gets up for Sakho's agent

Last-minute deals are part of the excitement on transfer deadline day, and there was some last-gasp drama at Chelmsford when Siege Of Boston triumphed.

Owned by football agent Mark McKay, the four-year-old's participation in the 7f handicap aroused interest when it was reported McKay would be attending with one of his clients, West Ham striker Diafra Sakho.

The forward reportedly wants a move away from the London Stadium to Rennes, but those negotiations were put on hold to go to the track and watch Siege Of Boston get up on the line under John Egan at odds of 9-2.

Although Sakho was keeping a low profile on course, McKay was present in the winner's enclosure and said: "It's good to come here, pop in and watch the horse run."

McKay's phone remained silent during the race, and he added: "Now it's time to get back to work. There are things to be sorted out so it's back to the football now. I hope all the West Ham fans backed the horse."

Supporters of the club arguably had a more obvious horse to bet on, but The Happy Hammer was a non-runner in the race.

Goal hits target
Apprentice Paddy Bradley made his first outing in the all-blue of Godolphin a winning one on Golden Goal in the mile handicap – but only just.

The 5lb claimer admitted the victory, which was actually a dead-heat with the unlucky-in-running Almoreb, was a "surreal experience which came right out of the blue".

Golden Goal knows as much about the track as Pat Whelan's apprentice, as he has done all his running at the Essex circuit and was notching his third win from just four trips down the M11 from Saeed Bin Suroor's stable.

Bradley said: "I thought I'd got done by the other horse as Golden Goal was in front long enough and was looking around. I'm very grateful to Sheikh Mohammed and Saeed Bin Suroor for using me and it's a great honour and a privilege."

Aljuljalah shines
The track hope to get their first ever black type race in 2018 and the £45,000 7f fillies conditions stakes must have strong claims of being upgraded after a storming win by Aljuljalah.

Winning jockey Andrea Atzeni endured a wasted trip to Catterick the previous day but steered Roger Varian's filly to an unlikely victory.

The jockey said: "She had a wide draw and I dropped in but I was expecting them to go a better pace."

Chilean hot for Meade
Martyn Meade registered a belated first two-year-old winner of the year when Chilean overcame fellow Newmarket runner Kind Act in the 7f novice stakes.

The son of Iffraaj was dwarfed in the paddock by some three-year-old types but towered over his five rivals in the mile race when getting up in the final furlong under Oisin Murphy, who later doubled up on newcomer Mobbhij in the closing maiden.

The juvenile was purchased by agent Dermot Farrington who was on hand for the success and was also the buyer of stable star Eminent.

He said: "It's very exciting to think that Eminent will be running in the Arc. We bought him for just 150,000 guineas as he was big and immature which was not like many of the Frankels."

THE BUZZ

Music clash
Chelmsford have three new Friday night meetings for 2018 which will clash with the Newmarket Nights series of concerts just up the M11 at racing's heaquarters. Clerk of the course Andy Waitt said: "We successfully bid for the meetings and I'm sure they will be popular but we will discuss whether to put music on or not."

Thought for the day
The will-he won't-he appearance of Diafra Sakho added plenty of excitement to the afternoon and one racegoer was even asked if he was the player, much to the amusement of many in the Greene King tent.

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