Spirit Ridge Rewarded in Chairman's Hcp

Mark Smith - Saturday May 18

A welcome change of luck for the honest 9-year-old gelding Spirit Ridge (GB) in Saturday's Group III JRA Chairman's Hcp (2000m) at Doomben, his first win in over 16 months.

Spirit Ridge (centre) gets the bob (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by James McDonald for Annabel Neaham, the imported son of Nathaniel staged a two-horse war with the New Bay (GB) gelding  New Endeavour; they split the line with Spirit Ridge (GB) getting the bob. Dune Forty Five (Americain) was a length back in third.

The winner of the Group III ATC Summer Cup, Group III BRC Premier's Cup, and Listed ATC January Cup, when trained by Mark Newnham, Spirit Ridge (GB), has had a frustrating run of minor placings for Annabel Neasham, including seconds in the Group 1 The Metropolitan, Group III Tatts Cup, and Group III Newcastle Cup.

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Purchased by De Burgh Equine/Darby Racing for 100,000 guineas at the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Sprit Ridge (GB) advances his record to eight wins, eleven seconds, and four thirds from 44 starts with earnings of $1,156,749.

“Full credit to the horse. He just keeps going well,” stable representative Todd Pollard said.

“His first-up run in the Wagga Cup was good, and he was always in the market before the race.

“It was a bit of an ugly race. He really took off before the turn. Our other two in the race looked like they could quinella it around the corner, but they probably knocked up a little late.

What a warrior he has been for Darby Racing (image Grant Courtney)

“He’s also a big gross horse so that the first-up run would bring him on. He’ll step up to the 2400-metres, I’d imagine, now. Hopefully, he can go on with it.”

“It was a great ride by James - one of the best in the business.”

Spirit Ridge (GB) is the best of four winners from eight to race for the  Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes and Grade 1 Gamely Handicap winner Tates Creek.

By leading broodmare sire Rahy Tates Creek is a half-sister to 7-time Group 1 winner Sightseek and to the dam of the Cheveley Park Stakes, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and One Thousand Guineas heroine Special Duty,

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Race Result - JRA Chairman's Hcp Gr3 2000m

Doomben Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:05.06
1
Spirit Ridge
- 9g Nathaniel (IRE) x Tates Creek (USA) (Rahy (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58
2
0.1
New Endeavour
- 4g New Bay (GB) x Moody Blue (IRE) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
3
1
Dune Forty Five
- 6g Americain (USA) x Candice (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 54
4
2.6
Regal Lion
- 5g Jakkalberry (IRE) x Red Delight (NZ) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
5
3.8
King Frankel
- 6g Frankel (GB) x You'll Be Mine (USA) (Kingmambo (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: B Shinn 57
6
4.9
Alegron
- 5g Teofilo (IRE) x Alegria (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: James Orman 56.5
7
5.5
London Banker
- 8g Tavistock (NZ) x Palos De Lago (NZ) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
8
7
Warning
- 7g Declaration Of War (USA) x Livia (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: J Byrne 54
9
7
Caprice Des Dieux
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Neko (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: S B Lee Rdr: Ron Stewart 54
10
7.7
Knights Order
- 9g So You Think (NZ) x Lamanka Lass (USA) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 60
11
8.3
Ostermeier
- 6g Lucas Cranach (GER) x Pinball Lass (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A & T Sweeney Rdr: Cejay Graham 54
12
18.8
Stuck With You
- 8g Roc De Cambes (NZ) x Taupaki Flight (NZ) (British Banker (CAN))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: R Dolan 54
13
19
Deny Knowledge
- 6m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x The Paris Shrug (GB) (Manduro (GER))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
14
19.6
Queenmaker
- 5m Tavistock (NZ) x Ijaaza (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: Craig Williams 54
15
45.4
Kukeracha
- 6g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Portrait Of A Lady (USA) (A.p. Indy (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M R Du Plessis 55.5
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