Reports from the Thursday events at the Newmarket July meeting
Castle Way Triumphs in Bahrain Trophy, St Leger on the Horizon
Castle Way showcased his potential as a serious contender for the St Leger by fending off odds-on favorite Tower Of London to secure victory in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. Despite not having raced since his impressive Listed win at the Guineas meeting, Palace Pier’s half-brother successfully stepped up in distance to a mile and five furlongs.
Ridden expertly by William Buick, Castle Way positioned himself just behind Think First who set a slow pace. Tower Of London was well-placed but failed to make any significant progress. As Saint George moved alongside him, Castle Way seized an opportunity and surged ahead of the pack.
Tower Of London had ample time to chase down Castle Way after Think First dropped out of contention. However, jockey Ryan Moore lost his whip with over a furlong left, which undoubtedly affected their chances. In the end, Castle Way held on by a narrow margin of a head while Saint George finished third.
The victory has prompted bookmakers Paddy Power to cut Castle Way’s odds from 25-1 to 7-1 for the upcoming St Leger at Doncaster. Trainer Charlie Appleby confirmed that Doncaster will indeed be on their agenda.
Jasour Storms to Victory in Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes
In an awe-inspiring display of speed and stamina, Jasour rallied from last place to emerge victorious in the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes at Newmarket.Trained by Clive Cox and sired by Havana Grey, Jasour defied expectations as he went off as a 16-1 outsider despite winning his previous race at Nottingham.
Purosangue attempted an early front-running tactic but faded with two furlongs remaining. Malc, the Norfolk Stakes runner-up, struggled throughout the race. Toca Madera briefly took the lead before Jasour powered through with a perfectly timed move by jockey Jim Crowley.
Jasour accelerated in dazzling fashion and left his rivals behind, ultimately winning comfortably by two lengths. Lake Forest, a debut winner trained by William Haggas, made up ground from the rear but settled for second place with Toca Madera finishing third.
Clive Cox expressed his delight at Jasour’s performance and emphasized that he had always shown great promise leading up to this victory.