Almeric Defies Lengthy Absence To Win Doonside Cup In Style
Almeric put a 158-day absence behind him as he originated from last to first to comfortably land the Ladbrokes "Big Football Bet Builder Boosts" Doonside Cup Stakes at Ayr.
Caviar Heights set the early rate in the Listed occasion with King's Gambit keeping tabs on him two lengths in arrears with champ jockey Oisin Murphy delighted to drop the Andrew Balding-trained in at the back of the field.
Caviar Heights damaged as the race went into the final furlong and a half and Murphy timed his obstacle to perfection and once he asked the concern, Almeric glided to the front of the field as the 13-8 preferred won for the third time in 4 starts, 2 and three-quarter lengths clear of King's Gambit.
Murphy informed ITV: "He's undoubtedly a bit ring rusty because he's been off the track for a while but he came into the race nicely however then he probably got to the front a bit sooner than ideal.
"Obviously with the time off the track he must be sharper on his next start.
"We've always liked him he's the most beautiful design.
Almeric wins the Doonside Cup at Ayr (Steve Welsh/PA)
"He's almost got a best record having won his last three starts and he ran well on launching. When you make racehorses this is what they are supposed to appear like."
The Richard Spencer-trained Candy made all to win the Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup.
The field divided coming out of the stalls with the George Wood-ridden Candy striking the front on the near side, with his primary competitors fighting it out on the far side of the course.
Sondad was overcoming Eye Of Dubai getting in the final half furlong, however Wood was always in command and the 8-1 saw off Sondad by one and three-quarter lengths.
Spencer said: "It's fantastic, George gets on actually well with him, the ground is the essential too him. He appears to just relish it and has a high cruising speed and simply keeps it going. I'm absolutely delighted. Hopefully we'll be coming back here next year for the big one."
Owner Phil Cunningham included: "It's the sort of horse, especially in a field like that, that he's not too difficult to spot. You know how's he going to run. He's going to come off the front and what a tremendous training efficiency. It was incredible, definitely amazing."
Thunder Roar hit the front a furlong from home and hung on to win the Ladbrokes "Free Bet At Ayr" Handicap, while the Richard Hughes-trained Nobody Knows got up to win the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes to give Murphy a double.