RACES SIX AND SEVEN ON SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Consolation for Spencer

DERBY DAY 2008
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
EPSOM DOWNS SATURDAY, JUNE 7

RACE SIX: NORTHERN DANCER STAKES (HANDICAP) -
WIN QUOTES

BUREAUCRAT OFFERS CRUMB OF COMFORT TO SPENCER

Jamie Spencer bounced back from Curtain Call’s disappointing display in the Vodafone Derby with a hard-fought success in the Northern Dancer Stakes (handicap).

Spencer was on board the Philip Hobbs-trained Bureaucrat, who narrowly prevailed from Aureate in a thrilling conclusion to the contest staged over the Derby trip.

The Irish jockey was all out in the final stages to boot home his mount, who was returning to the Flat after 988 days.

Spencer said of the 11/1 winner: “It’s three years since he ran (on the Flat) but obviously he has improved!

“He was shaking at the start and I was saying to him ‘What are you worried about?’ It’s just grand to win on him.”

Asked to comment on the effort of Curtain Call - 10th in the Derby - Spencer simply offered: “It was just disappointing.”

Sarah Hobbs, wife of the winning trainer, said: “Jamie just settled him and he said that he didn’t think the horse had much there half-way round. But when he asked him, he quickened up nicely, although he was never going to win easily.”

Explaining her husband’s absence, she added: “Philip is at Worcester where we’re running two.”

DERBY DAY 2008
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
EPSOM DOWNS SATURDAY, JUNE 7

WIN QUOTES

Race Seven - The Prince’s Stand Handicap

WOKINGHAM NEXT FOR MAC GILLE EOIN

Trainer John Gallagher is dreaming of Royal Ascot after Mac Gille Eoin gave him his first success since April 13 in the last race on Derby Day 2008, the Prince’s Stand Handicap.

The Moreton-In-Marsh handler declared: “That was fantastic! It doesn’t get better than this - to win on Derby day. I can take the scarf and gloves off my staff now because we’re off the cold trainers’ list.

“Hopefully he’ll get in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot now and the faster the better. I trained him for today, with the Wokingham in mind.”

Mac Gille Eoin, an 11/1 chance, improved on his eighth in an Ascot handicap last month to take the six-furlong contest under Jim Crowley.

Gallagher continued: “He was fit and well for his Ascot run last time but he spread a plate and it was his first run of the year.

“I almost ran him at Goodwood last week on good to soft and I was kicking myself when I didn’t because I thought he would have won there. As the week went on and the sun came out, the ground dried up and I stopped kicking myself.

“This is my first runner here under a full licence but I did have one a very long time ago under permit.”

Crowley tracked the pace-setting Idle Power into the straight aboard the winner and soon passed that rival as he kicked for home to register a length and a half success.

The jockey said: “Mac Gille Eoin has run a fantastic race. I was a bit disappointed with him the last time he ran. I dropped him out that day because he’s won from the front and behind but I felt a few times that, when he’s run from the front, he’s done too much.

“The last run left him spot on for today and he’s a decent horse on his day. He’s done it very well here."