Soldier’s Heart Dominates Ripon Trophy Stakes with Ease
"Soldier's Heart Dominates at Ripon: Harry Davies Secures Easy Victory, Eyes Higher Stakes"
Utilizing his familiarity with the course, Soldier's Heart led from start to finish in the British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy Stakes.
Simon and Ed Crisford returned him to a six-furlong course for a victory at Ripon last time, after he struggled to keep up in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.
Emerging victorious with ease in that conditions race, it undoubtedly prepared him well for a competitive field of seven past winners.
Harry Davies secured the prime rail position from stall five, and from that point on, the outcome appeared to be unquestionable.
Given a comfortable lead, he steadily increased the tempo, and with a furlong left to run, the race seemed decided as he maintained a four-length advantage.
Benevento performed best among the remaining contenders, narrowing the gap to within two lengths. However, he couldn't compete with the 15-8 favourite, who is poised to elevate back up in class.
Richard Fahey's Shadow Army, who previously secured fourth place in the Group One Phoenix Stakes, ended up trailing behind, indicating that something might have been wrong.
Davies commented on the winner: "He's improved further from his last race. He made a great start from the gates and was more savvy today, having taken in his surroundings better than the last time."
His previous experience here has clearly been beneficial for him; while some horses struggle during their first outing, he has shown significant improvement and handled the conditions excellently.
He’s compact, bred for speed, and the return to six furlongs has certainly benefited him. He performed well today.
He is entered in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on September 21 and the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 28, so those races are available options for him. If he continues to progress as he has been, we will be pleased.
'At Goodwood in the Molecomb Stakes, he was almost overwhelmed; it was my first time riding him. The nature of Goodwood—with its very sharp five furlongs—means that when horses get unbalanced coming down the hill, they rarely have a strong chance. He only really began to pick up pace in the final furlong.'
'We knew that if we placed him in a more suitable environment, he would have the confidence to lead the race once again.'
