Almeric Defies Lengthy Absence To Win Doonside Cup In Style
Almeric put a 158-day absence behind him as he came from last to first to conveniently land the Ladbrokes "Big Football Bet Builder Boosts" Doonside Cup Stakes at Ayr.
Caviar Heights set the early speed in the Listed occasion with King's Gambit keeping tabs on him 2 lengths in arrears with champ jockey Oisin Murphy delighted to drop the Andrew Balding-trained Almeric in at the rear of the field.
Caviar Heights weakened as the race got in the final furlong and a half and Murphy timed his challenge to perfection and once he asked the concern, Almeric moved to the front of the field as the 13-8 favourite won for the third time in 4 starts, 2 and three-quarter lengths clear of King's Gambit.
Murphy informed ITV: "He's certainly a bit ring rusty since he's been off the track for a while however he came into the race nicely but then he probably got to the front a little bit sooner than ideal.
"Obviously with the time off the track he should be sharper on his next start.
"We have actually constantly loved him he's the most stunning model.
Almeric wins the Doonside Cup at Ayr (Steve Welsh/PA)
"He's nearly got a best record having actually won his last three starts and he ran well on launching. When you make this is what they are supposed to look like."
The Richard Spencer-trained Candy made all to win the Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup.
The field split coming out of the stalls with the George Wood-ridden Candy hitting the front on the near side, with his primary rivals fighting it out on the far side of the course.
Sondad was overcoming Eye Of Dubai going into 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 excellent, George gets on actually well with him, the ground is the key too him. He seems to just relish it and has a high cruising speed and simply keeps it going. I'm absolutely pleased. Hopefully we'll be returning here next year for the big one."
Owner Phil Cunningham added: "It's the sort of horse, specifically 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 remarkable training performance. It was remarkable, definitely fantastic."
Thunder Roar struck 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.