Sweet Reward records poignant success for Old Stoic Racing Club
Sweet Reward took a big step up in class in his stride to record a poignant success in the 1m2f handicap under jockey Rob Hornby.
The improving four-year-old defied a 4lb rise in the weights to edge out Russian Virtue by half a length for trainer Jonny Portman.
Gary Davies, a member of The Old Stoic Racing Club syndicate, said a shared love of racing has helped its members through tough times.
"One of our syndicate members, Dick Fellows-Smith, has been a friend for decades and is going through a tough time battling cancer but he's as resolute as ever."
Portman highlighted the significance of the win for his long-serving owners, and said: "He’s owned by a great bunch of people. They've had lots of success with me and Alex Hales so it was a great result."
On Sweet Reward, a course-and-distance last month, the trainer added: "I had him in a race at York but its a long way to go. Knowing his liking for Sandown, I thought it was worth stepping him up in grade out of his comfort zone. We took a punt and Rob rode the horse very well and it went our way. We’re very happy."
Dwyer at the double
In-form jockey Martin Dwyer, fresh from Coronation Cup success aboard Pyledriver, continued his purple patch with a 107-1 double.
Teaming up with William Muir once more, Dwyer won the 7f handicap aboard Shuv H'Penny King, before doubling up with the Marcus Tregoning-trained Haizoom, who landed the 1m6f handicap.
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Published on 11 June 2021inReports
Last updated 00:42, 12 June 2021
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- Champion trainer Willie Mullins wins the bet365 Gold Cup with Minella Cocooner
- Celebration Chase: Jonbon dominates Grade 1 feature to maintain perfect record at Sandown
- Leicester: Eve Johnson Houghton boosts juvenile strike-rate to 44 per cent with her fourth debut winner
- Cork: 'Hopefully she can progress a bit further this season' - Thunder Roll strikes in the Noblesse for Joseph O'Brien
- Perth: 'The further he goes, the better he goes' - Bretney makes all to land the Highland National