3 minute read
William Haggas can begin to make more ambitious plans for Wonder Laish after the stoutly-bred colt made it third time lucky in stunning fashion at Lingfield.
A half-brother to Hong Kong Cup winner Akeed Mofeed, Wonder Laish shaped with abundant promise when third on Windsor debut last autumn and was only narrowly denied when odds-on for his reappearance at the same track last month.
Sent off at 6-5 for what appeared a match with Godolphin's Royal History (5-6 favourite) in the Telegraph Maiden Stakes, Wonder Laish was soon bowling along in front in the hands of Pat Cosgrave.
With Royal History running well below the form of his introductory runner-up finish at Kempton, it was plain sailing for the Haggas runner, but it was still difficult not to be impressed by the change of gear that carried him to a runaway 15-length success over Smart Motive.
The Newmarket handler, however, is not getting carried away.
He said: " I'm not sure the race turned out to be any good as the favourite ran appallingly. We were probably flattered, but he did it well and I was hoping he'd win.
"I think the horse that beat him at Windsor last time, Richard Of Yorke, must be pretty smart.
"We'll go for a handicap now, whether that will be at Royal Ascot or not, I'm not sure.
"I don't know whether a bit of juice in the ground might be important to him. He's by Halling and they tend to like a bit of ease in the ground, so we'll see."
Wonder Laish's triumph initiated a double on the afternoon for Pat Cosgrave, with the jockey steering 7-4 favourite I'm Harry to a similarly emphatic verdict in the National Federation Of Retail Newsagents Handicap.
The enterprisingly-ridden Belrog looked to have stolen a march on his rivals down the back straight, but he began to feel the pinch from two furlongs down and the George Baker-trained I'm Harry, a multiple winner at Les Landes in Jersey, came through to win by eight lengths from Tilstarr.
"He's been a star this horse. The Jersey experiment really worked with him and just gave him confidence," Baker said.
"He really likes a strong gallop to aim at and he's probably ended up in front far too soon, but you've just got to keep going with him as he does pull up in front.
"He may go back to Jersey. He's run in the Derby out there a couple of times, so he might go for the Jersey Derby in July."
Leah Freya led her rivals a merry dance for a shock 33-1 success in the Mail Newspapers Handicap for trainer Pat Phelan and jockey John Egan.
The consistent Bold Runner (3-1) knuckled down well to win the Menzies Distribution Ltd. Handicap in the hands of Adam Kirby, who said: " He was always on top. When he was having a battle he was galloping well and when he hit the front he was getting a little bit idle, but there's nothing wrong with that."
Lolita struck at 8-1 in the Newssolutions Fillies' Handicap, while Ocean Crystal was a 12-1 winner of the Citipost Ltd. Claiming Stakes under top apprentice Cam Hardie.
The Smiths News Handicap brought proceedings to a close and it was Andrew Balding's 10-1 shot Hannington who claimed top honours by a head from Kubeba.