3 minute read
Bryony Frost made her return from injury a winning one, as she partnered Zikany to a 14-1 success in a Flat race at Goodwood on Sunday.
On her first ride for 212 days, she warmed up for the jumps season in booting home the Amanda Perrett -trained four-year-old to a three-quarters of a length victory over the fast-finishing Tralee Hills in the two-mile Wayne Tufnell Alderbook Handicap, a race for professional jump jockeys.
Frost, 27, had not ridden in Britain since fracturing a vertebra in her back in a fall from Thyme White at Aintree's Grand National meeting on April 7.
"He's a complete pro," Frost told Racing TV after dismounting.
"Amanda and (jockeys' agent) Sam Stronge said, 'Do you want to ride him?', so I took the opportunity and thought, 'It is a great place to start and an amazing track to ride. He looks awesome to ride, so knows his job, so we'll go out there'.
"It's been a long time off track, but the buzz was there and I was actually thinking, when he travelled so strongly to the front, 'Oh no, this will be it – I'll hit the front and get swallowed on the line', but luckily he kept me going all the way, head in front and a winner on the board.
"He is a really happy horse out there, fitness levels extreme, the step up in trip obviously he loves, and he was back on his winning mark. Everything was looking right for him.
"The track is so much fun to ride and to come off on a winner is absolutely awesome – I can't thank the team enough for it."
Tritonic will head to the November Handicap at Doncaster after being given a peach of a ride by Hollie Doyle in the featured Inkerman London Handicap for trainer Alan King.
Held up in the early stages of the mile-and-a-half event as Goshen set a decent pace, the five-year-old had plenty of ground to make up when turning for home, but after coming back on the bridle, the 6-1 chance travelled sweetly and kept finding to hold off the gallant Goshen for a neck success.
King said: "It was great. I'm delighted with that. I was a wee bit worried at halfway that we had over-relaxed, but Hollie said that once she got amongst them, he came back on the bridle and she was really chuffed with him.
"The November Handicap is the target. I would think him and On To Victory, who actually ran a solid race (sixth), will both head to the November Handicap."
Doyle's husband, Tom Marquand, recorded a double with Yacowlef (4-9 favourite) landing the six-furlong novice for Paul and Oliver Cole and Spanish Star (100-30 joint-favourite) repeating last year's success in the six-furlong handicap over a similar trip for Patrick Chamings.
Spanish Star showed a great turn of foot to come late and fast to beat Dora Penny by a length and a quarter.
Chamings said: "The fierce pace helped us enormously. Where he really thrives is on bottomless ground. The key to him is the pace of the race. He is a handful at home.
"We know his well-being. If he is not literally coming out the gate sideways or going on the bottom of the gallop like an idiot, you know he is not in good order."
Champion-elect William Buick was also on the scoreboard, steering Benacre (100-30) to an easy two-and-three-quarter-length success in the seven-furlong nursery for Charlie and Mark Johnston.
The imposing Australia colt followed up his recent Epsom success in style to make it three wins from five starts, and Buick said: "He's a big horse. He is strong and well-built and it is on the soft side of good today, and he likes that as well.
"He will probably get further. He feels like there is more to come. He is a horse who has a big stride and he knows how to use it."
Rathgar (11-10 favourite) put proven stamina and a good attitude to good use, as Charlie Bishop's mount justified 11-10 favouritism in style, drawing clear of his rivals in the nine-furlong novice. The Mick Channon-trained winner was getting off the mark at the third attempt.