3 minute read
William Haggas' Al Aasy proved much too good for his rivals when strolling to victory in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.
The enigmatic seven-year-old arrived on the back of a comfortable success in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood earlier in the month and was sent off the even-money favourite to follow up back at his beloved Newbury.
Held up in his customary position at the rear of the field, the Shadwell-owned evergreen gelding travelled effortlessly into contention and barely had to break a sweat to pass his rivals en-route to a two-length success. Al Qareem, who sat in second for much of the one-mile five-and-a-half-furlong contest, rallied to grab the second spot for Karl Burke and Clifford Lee.
"He has always been a talented horse and has probably been better since he's been gelded, but he's always been talented," Maureen Haggas, wife and assistant to the Somerville Lodge handler, told ITV Racing.
"It was great, pretty easy. He's a dude. It's only four weeks since he had his first run of the season and he's had two weeks from then till Goodwood and another two weeks till today and it was a big ask, especially after he had a bit of time off like he had.
"But we couldn't pass up an opportunity like today and we had to come. He's seven years old now and it's time to get to work really.
"He enjoyed it today and it was a good pace, which he enjoys. He's run over all sorts of trips, from a mile up to a mile-and-five, but he just likes a good pace. He used to be very keen and he's not as keen now but can still be very strong when he wants to.
"To have the likes of him and Hamish fill a lot of holes is great. Hamish is of course ground dependent, but this lad goes on any ground and these older horses, if you look after them and they are sound, then they are just wonderful to have around."
It was an armchair ride for jockey Jim Crowley, who added: "Early on, I probably didn't get it quite right with him a few times, but he's really come to himself and improved for being gelded as well.
"He's a lot more amenable in a race and that was just like riding a piece of work, it was lovely.
"It's a great feeling when you're in behind, you've got everything covered and you know when you want him to go, he'll go. I probably got there a bit soon and could have been a bit cheekier on him."