Say cheese: Owen over the moon after Zoffee claims landmark Chester Cup | Sport

THis trophy, and the 30 pounds of Cheshire cheese that came with it, was handed over to Sophie’s owner Alan Peterson after the Chester Cup here on Friday, but Michael Owen said for locals It was a testament to the significance of this unique race. The landlord at Manor House Stables, where Sophie is trained by Hugo Palmer, was celebrating as if he had scored an FA Cup final winner. “It’s almost a lifelong dream to win that race,” Owen said. “I said to the owner before the race, ‘I know it’s your horse, but at the Manor House it’s all mine.’ That’s how I feel.”

Built from the ground up by one of Chester’s most famous sons, the yard’s victory was in many ways the ideal result in a race to mark the 200th anniversary of the Chester Cup.

Sophie had been rejected on her last stride 12 months earlier, but this time she weighs three pounds lighter and is enjoying the ride in Copybook Chester, 18-year-old Harry Davies, who has been attending Palmer’s surgery ever since. is. Her trainer said: “You had to stand on a bucket to tack the pony.”

Davis quickly escaped stall one and held the rail through Rudy’s two circuits before calling on Sophie to quickly pass the leading Aztec Empire well inside the final furlong.

“We all love this horse,” Palmer said. “He may not be the most highly regarded horse in the field, but he has a very sweet face and he loves what he does.

“Me and Harry have been a big part of each other’s lives for a long time. His mother Angie is my assistant and she’s been with me for 12 years, but Harry is only 18. He was in the yard for a long time and we continued to race the pony for him. [Palmer’s old yard in] new market.

“This is a huge and historic race and it’s the 200th edition. There aren’t many handicaps of this renown outside of Royal Ascot, so being local means a lot, and two years ago I finished third, Last year I was second, so I’m getting closer and closer.

“We said last year that we would come back and win this year. Harry rode his first stakes-winning horse for us last year. He is now winning this race for us. And with a little luck he might ride his first group winner.”Lingfield tomorrow. [on Stenton Glider]”

The Huxley Stakes is one of the latest additions to the Mayfestival program, but it is the only second group of the big races held here, with Sir Michael Stout’s passenger taking the first group’s legs on Friday. I saw a very impressive winner who was able to escape by showing off his rotation. Isrard is in the straight line and could potentially book a place in next month’s Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Passenger made his racetrack debut in the Wood Ditton Stakes at Newmarket, just six weeks after an unlucky third place in the Dante Stakes at York, and had a chance of going 8-1 in last year’s Epsom Derby. He was sent off.

He wasn’t up for the rush to the Group 1 company, but for a trainer with few peers in the second half, Passenger couldn’t have had a more promising start to his four-year-old season. Horses growing up.

Passenger’s career has many echoes of that of his father, Ulysses, who went 8-1 in the 2016 Derby and then blossomed into a double G1 winner in the Eclipse Stakes and International Stakes. He as a 4 year old.

The horse broke that record with Friday’s win and was initially quoted at 14-1 in the Prince of Wales Stakes after crossing the line, but that was quickly lowered to a more realistic 11-2.

Victoria Cup boasts a strong team

Saturday’s Victoria Cup is the first grand charge of the year to take place on Ascot’s straight course, and the typically strong update already includes a number of contenders with solid course form to its name. Masu.

This group includes course and distance winner Part d’Or, who is competing for the top spot with Motabushiru, who finished 6 out of 9 in last year’s Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes, albeit on a circular course.

However, a similar case could be made for cheaper competitors. street of gold (2.40) The highest price on the initial list is 18:1. Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding finished well in last summer’s Jersey Stakes, finishing one-third of 15 on this trip, and will have the strong pace she loves to chase, and Georgia Dobie’s three The pound claim is also a bonus.

Ascot 1.30. A step up to 12 furlongs could encourage further improvement. Kothari After two convincing wins in over 10 games.

Lingfield 1.50.Roger Varian is imeric The lightly raced 5-year-old remains a decent performer, showing a good enough straight line to win in his 2023 season debut.

Ascot 2.05. Maria He performed as expected when he was promoted to a listed company in his season debut, and as this is only his sixth start, there is plenty of room for him to advance with a handicap.

Lingfield 2.25. All but one of the Oaks Trial runners are still in the Classic, including the number two favorite on the current preliminary race list. Daniel. John Gosden’s filly won by 12 lengths at Wetherby Racecourse in April and should secure a place at Epsom.

Lingfield 3.00. Environmentally friendly Although his price for the Derby Trial is in double digits, it seems certain that he will run after finishing fourth at Newmarket in April, and his form as a child appears to be solid as he finished third in the Autumn Stakes.

Haydock 3.15. Cheltenham Festival winner Lark in the Morning has set a high standard but a faster horse field will make this a different test and Afadil Freddie Dzingell, who was a close fourth in the last Scottish Champion Hurdle, will be a tough opponent at under 3lb.

Lingfield 3.35. remarquee She did well in some Group 1s last season and assuming she is straight enough to do her justice here, she will be very difficult to beat.