Spyce up for the Cup at Newmarket

All roads will lead to next month’s Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket for Spyce, who made a pleasing return to action on his first appearance since undergoing a wind operation at Doncaster on Thursday.

Making his first start since finishing ninth in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot back in June, the son of Too Darn Hot acquitted himself well in defeat in the Pertemps Network Handicap.

After moving through the ten furlong contest kindly, Spyce stayed on well enough late on under Rossa Ryan to finish a creditable sixth.

And, on the back of that effort, Spyce will now step up to a mile and a half for the first time to tackle the Heritage Handicap, which Alan saddled Trueshan to win in 2019 and Daiquiri Bay to finish third in last year, on the Rowley Mile on October 9th.

Alan said: “I was very happy with Spyce as he was only just ready to start back. I was desperate to get a a run into him before the Old Rowley Cup. He needed the race and that should bring him on well.

“The Old Rowley Cup is now the plan and I think he is on par with those that we have run in the race before.”

There was to be no Derby delight on the same afternoon for Galaxy Star, who had to settle for third in this year’s Quickslide Quick Ride Apprentices’ Derby Handicap at Epsom Downs. However, it was a run that Alan was still pleased with.

Alan said: “Galaxy Star ran well at Epsom. She wants stepping up in trip with her now on the Flat. We need to go over a mile six with her. She will also have a school over hurdles as well as she might well go hurdling this winter.”

Plan C put up his best performance of the season to finish third in the Sporting Times Apprentice Handicap at Sandown Park on Friday. And like Galaxy Star, the son of Sioux Nation could have his attentions switched to hurdles in the near future.

Alan said: “I was very pleased with him. We are back on track with him, but he was another that was only just ready to start. He will have another run on the Flat, but after that we will go juvenile hurdling with him.

“The softer ground helped him at Sandown, but he has been gelded as well. All-in-all it was a big step in the right direction.”

Down at Salisbury on the same afternoon Hoshi received his first taste of racing on the turf after going one better than his debut fifth at Kempton Park in the Skytree Novice Stakes on his first attempt over a mile.

Alan said: “That was his first run on the grass and I was pleased with that. He will have learnt again and he will be fine. He is progressing along nicely. I would have thought we will stay at the mile with him for the time being.”

And Wisper continued what has so far been a consistent campaign on Saturday after reaching the frame yet again when staying on well to take third in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap.

Alan said: “It was a great run from Wisper. She was a little bit slow away, but that is her way of running. She had a lot of ground to make up around there, but she was flying at the finish. I was very happy with her.”