Newmarket raised jockey Harry Davies enjoys biggest win of career on Rajinsky at Nottingham
Rising star of the weighing room Harry Davies celebrated the biggest winner of his career at Nottingham on Wednesday after steering Rajinsky to a surprise success in the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes.
The former Newmarket Academy pupil secured his most notable victory since launching his career in the saddle last year when lowering the colours of talented stayer Trueshan aboard the Hugo Palmer-trained gelding in the Listed feature.
Having led from the outset, the 16/1 chance appeared to be a sitting duck for the strong travelling favourite, and last year’s winner Trueshan, who breezed effortlessly into contention under Hollie Doyle approaching the final three furlongs of the race.
However, Rajinksy continued to find plenty for pressure during the closing stages of the mile and three quarter contest under 18-year-old Davies to repel dual Group 1 scorer Trueshan by half a length.
The victory marked a second win together for Davies and Rajinsky after the pair teamed up to take the Turners Cesarewitch Trial on Newmarket's Rowley Mile last year.
Davies said: “Rajinsky is a little bit behind in his coat but we thought he would be fit enough today. Obviously the competition was probably the best he has ever faced really.
"He is just improving as he is getting older and he is just starting to come into himself now. Last year we learnt an awful lot about him.
“I know the horse gets further and he always hits the line strong and never lets you down as he tries very hard. When Trueshan came to me he never let me down. I’m so thankful to the owners and Hugo for keeping me on the horse.”
Although Rajinsky came up short on his pattern race debut in the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at Paris-Longchamp in October, the teenage rider believes he is worth another go back up in class if conditions are right.
He added: “There is no reason why he can’t compete in Group races. The only thing is he likes a little bit of cut in the ground.
"It is very exciting if he can compete in all those cup races this season.”
On the same card Newmarket-based rider Marco Ghiani enjoyed the perfect start in his new role as retained rider to owner Peter Harris after making his first ride in association with the former trainer a winning one on Eyetrap in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap.
Signed up by Harris this year to ride his string of runners, which includes Betfred Derby entry Blanchland, who will re-appear in next week’s bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket, the 24-year-old was all smiles after his three quarters of a length victory on the Ulysses colt.
Harris said: “He couldn’t have done any better. I have a great relationship with Adam Kirby, and still have, but I needed somebody to ride the fillies as well as the colts, and he won some good races as an apprentice.
Post-race Newmarket trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam admitted that the dream of reaching next year’s Melbourne Cup in her native Australia still remains alive, however, Harris quickly poured cold water on those ambitions following a rather forgettable experience of the event.
He added: “I once had the second favourite for the Melbourne but the horse got travel sickness on the way and he never ran so I don’t have particularly fond memories of the Melbourne Cup!”
Alice Haynes intends to waste no time in looking for opportunities back at Listed level for Fix You, who revelled in the soft conditions to collect the Racing TV Profits Returned to Racing Handicap by three and a half lengths.
The Newmarket trainer said of the 15/8 winner: “I thought 77 was a great mark for her and this looked a suitable opportunity.
“There is a race in Ireland (EBF Committed Stakes) that we might go to at the end of next week. We are chasing soft ground to get a bit of black type early. She is a lovely filly.
“It is great that she is off the mark as a three year old. She is exciting for the owners (Amo Racing Limited) who are good supporters of our team.”
There was further success for Newmarket-based yards on the card after the John and Thady Gosden-trained Betfred Derby entry Torito (1-4) landed The Bet At racingtv.com Novice Stakes which was the first leg of a double for Robert Havlin.
Group 1-winning rider Havlin completed his brace with a three and a half length victory aboard the Dean Ivory-trained Molly Valentine in The racingtv.com Fillies' Handicap Stakes.
