KANDIDATE SET FOR MORE HONOURS
By Tom Peacock, PA Sport
Kandidate could have earned more money in the Dubai World Cup - but almost certainly less of the glory than he enjoyed by taking the intercasino.co.uk Magnolia Stakes at rainy Kempton Park.
But after the six-year-old had clung on to the 10-furlong Listed event as one of three on the card for Neil Callan, trainer Clive Brittain was still positive he would have made an impact in the world's richest race that same afternoon.
Kandidate (9-4) was not able to pay for his World Cup entry fee, having unseated his rider in a prep-race at Nad Al Sheba three weeks ago.
Although he reaped handsome dividends at the Sunbury venue, he had his fair share of luck to get the verdict by a head as it looked to the naked eye as if the fast-finishing Illustrious Blue had caught him.
"It costs 60 grand to enter the World Cup and if he'd won his last race, he would have gone there," explained Brittain.
"This is a great consolation but I still think he could have run a big race as behind the first three, the World Cup looked stacked up and there's good place money.
"Plans are fluid now. First I'm going to have a drink."
The course record was smashed by the winner but the much-vaunted return of Diamond Tycoon proved a disappointment as the 15-8 favourite was last.
Callan was handed a one-day ban (April 12) though for causing interference.
It was Callan again who took the intercasino.co.uk Rosebery Stakes on Philatelist, who was smashed into 5-2 favourite after his luckless 10th in the Winter Derby.
The colt has been campaigned in the typically studious manner of trainer Michael Jarvis and hit the front with plenty of time to prove half a length too good for the game Mr Aviator.
"I'm not saying he would have won the Winter Derby but he got messed about on the first turn and got no run when he needed it," said Jarvis.
"He might have a break now and wait for the better ground. We might look at Royal Ascot."
Jean-Pierre Guillambert was suspended four days (April 12-15) for causing interference on Bahar Shumaal.
Ralph Beckett was also thinking of the Royal Meeting for Red Rumour (12-1), who received the full force of Seb Sanders to collar Elna Bright virtually on the lollipop in the intercasino.co.uk Handicap to win by a nose.
"We had a feeling he might be slightly better than he shows at home," said Beckett.
"We ran him over a mile to see if he got the trip as I think he could be the sort of horse for the Britannia."
The same team's Asaint Needs Brass led home a six-way finish of juvenile debutants in the intercasino.co.uk EBF Maiden Stakes.
Appropriately, the 15-8 favourite's name is an anagram of Sebastian Sanders.
David Evans' Vhujon (16-1) obliged on his three-year-old debut by slipping up the inside rail in the Play Blackjack At intercasino.co.uk Handicap, while the likeable Edge Closer (2-1) was another to continue winning ways in the intercasino.co.uk Conditions Stakes.
Callan brought up his hat-trick aboard Calculating (100-30) for Mark Usher in the once-prestigious intercasino.co.uk Queen's Prize.
Saturday March 29 2008
Kempton 15:45 - Result
Intercasino.co.uk Magnolia Stakes (listed)
£26000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 2f, Class 1, £14763 penalty, 8 ran
Going: Standard Winning Time: 2m 03.77s
Pos. Dr. Dist. Horse Wt Jockey Trainer Age SP
1 6 Kandidate 8-13 N Callan C E Brittain 6 9/4
made all, led and set good pace, ridden 2f out, hanging left final furlong, driven, all out, just held on opened 11/4
2 4 hd Illustrious Blue 8-13 R Kingscote W J Knight 5 12/1
steadied start, held up in rear, ridden 3f out, headway and strong run 1f out, finished well, just failed
3 8 ½ Spice Route 8-13 Jim Crowley M L W Bell 4 14/1
tracked winner, effort over 1f out, edged left final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
4 1 ¾ Great Hawk (USA) 8-13 S Sanders Sir Michael Stoute 5 3/1
towards rear, stayed on well from over 1f out, nearest finish opened 7/2
5 3 ¾ Pur Sucre (FR) 8-13 C Catlin R Pritchard-Gordon 4 20/1
tracked leaders to over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out opened 16/1 touched 25/1
6 7 nk Grand Passion (IRE) 9-2 S Drowne G Wragg 8 16/1
prominent on inner, ridden and 3rd over 1f out, no extra, faded inside final furlong
7 5 1½ Impeller (IRE) 8-13 T G McLaughlin Jane Chapple-Hyam 9 50/1
steadied start, settled towards rear, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace opened 40/1
8 2 9 Diamond Tycoon (USA) 8-13 P J Smullen B J Meehan 4 15/8 f
close up, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place and weakened quickly over 1f out opened 7/4 touched 13/8 £900-£400 £1000-£500 £600-£300 (x2) £3000-£1600 £1125-£600 £700-£400
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