When things don’t work out it can prove to be a very frustrating time, especially when travelling to the other end of the country. Batal Zabeel quickly made up for it though when he took his first career win, proving too strong in the 5f Willerby Holiday Homes And Lodges Nursery Handicap at Beverley.

Batal Zabeel had shown a lot of promise on his first 3 starts, finishing only a neck runner up on his third start to an eventual group placed filly. Rather than use his handicap mark, the colt remained in maiden company when travelling down to Sandown. Jinxing left coming out of the stalls caused the jockey to loose his irons almost immediately. Despite this hinderance, Batal Zabeel still ran well and was actually involved for a long way.

Returning to Yorkshire, he would take on handicap company for the first time with Shane Gray in the saddle. Jumping smartly, Batal Zabeel was into his stride and moved forward from the outside draw. With only 6 runners he found it quite easy to track and sat on the leaders girth as they blazed through the first furlong.

Travelling powerfully throughout the contest he passed the 2f going best of all. Shane began to niggle away and his mount moved through to press for the lead. Down his outer, the favourite was trying to get rolling too but was a length down on Batal Zabeel.

Hitting the front Batal Zabeel just began to lug into the rail and this gave the favourite a sniff. Hitting the rising ground they were alongside each other but Shane was yet to really go for his mount. Getting him gathered up and balanced, Shane could now ask for his big effort and the colt responded. For a second he looked in trouble but was running straight and true, the 2yo found some momentum. With 1/2f to run he had hit top gear and began to edge away from his rival. Just a couple of flicks saw Batal Zabeel go on to win by a length, doing his best work late on.

Batal Zabeel has progressed with each run and is doing better mentally with racing. He hasn’t run a bad race, even when the mishap happened last time out, and deserved to get off the mark. Winning off a mark of 77, Batal Zabeel looked to have a bit in hand and can improve off this mark. Nursery company will still be in his plans and he can certainly progress through the ranks.

You would be hard pushed to find a better ride all season. When you have Ryan Moore booked you sit back and let him go to work. Arguably the world’s best jockey, Ryan produced a ride oozing with class but his partner showed just as much quality. Maharba The Champ had already won at the Dante festival and he doubled up at the Ebor taking the 1m4f Sky Bet Handicap.

The lightly raced 4yo hails from a classy family and although it has been a slow burn, he is beginning to hit the heights he threatened to earlier in his career. Maharba The Champ has a bit of a patchy look to his form book but when he is on song, he is a classy individual. Returning to action at the Dante meeting, he put in a fine performance to win over 1m2f. Unfortunately things just never went right for him in the following 2 runs. The track at Epsom and then very soft ground at Goodwood scuppered his chances of progressing this season so waiting for quick ground was important.

With previous form and right conditions, the Ebor meeting provided a nice opportunity to bounce back to form. The trip was a new test, having previously won over 1m2f, but pedigree and running style gave confidence that it should be no issue. Ryan Moore approached the race with a clear slate, to ride as he found him and adopted patient tactics. Maharba The Champ was slightly slow away and Ryan immediately settled him towards the rear, tracking over to the rail. With a fair pace being set, Ryan would watch on with the entire field to pass.

Despite this being his first try over the distance, Maharba The Champ would actually find himself shuffled back at times. The leader raced keen throughout which had the field quickly charging down the back straight and into the long, sweeping left handed home bend. There was a good 12 lengths between first and last, Maharba The Champ.

Ryan just oozed confidence and when the leader kicked 1/2 mile from home, there was no panic. The field were racing a long way out and yet Ryan just took his time, seemingly losing ground but happy to wait. With leader stretching, it had really put the rest under the pump. Maharba The Champ still travelled well and he was just moving up quietly but with a wall of horses still in front of him.

As they entered the final 2f, Ryan had angled his mount all the way across to the far side. Now with a clear run he began to work away on his mount and he had plenty of horse beneath him. Quickening up, Maharba The Champ burst through between rivals to give chase. Suddenly the entire complexion changed and as Maharba The Champ came through, the leader start to look vulnerable. Both horse and jockey smelt victory and it was now that Ryan went for everything. Posing the question he got the answer passing the furlong pole. Maharba The Champ swept past his rivals, taking the lead 150 yards from and gone in the blink of an eye. He kicked clear to win by an easy 1 3/4 lengths.

This was a hugely impressive display from Maharba The Champ and one of the best rides seen this season. He thrives on quick ground and showed a startling turn of foot. Maharba The Champ is still progressing and being so lightly raced, there could be plenty more improvement to come. The manner he finished off the race suggest that even 1m6f could be possible for the colt. Ground is key but it would not be a surprise to see Maharba The Champ turn into a possible Ebor contender in 12 months time.

Yorkshire folk cannot dream of anything better than an inner at the Ebor festival. York’s premier meeting offers some of the best racing worldwide and everyone aims to get into the winer’s enclosure. Forza Orta already provided the Wainwright family and Highbank Stud a memory that will live on forever when winning at the Knavesmire last year. The 5yo went one better when he stepped up in strip to win the 2m 1/2f Sky Bet Stayers Handicap at York.

Forza Orta progressed well last season but he never quite broke the barrier in to 90’s. Having won in class 3 handicaps, the next step was the heritage handicaps which he had run well in previously. Unfortunately early this season seemed to be following the same trend. Forza Orta had always looked like a stayer in the making so connections decided to take the chance that 2m could unlock the improvement required.

Rowan Scott has struck up a good partnership with Forza Orta and was in the saddle once again. Up against dour stayers, Forza Orta was the one in the field as an unknown regarding the trip. Jumping well he was to the fore, chasing the lead and sitting in around 4th place as they crossed the winning line. He lost a couple of places as a  the field settled down to chase a good gallop.

There was never an issue as the field raced down the back straight, moving past the 1m4f starting point where Forza Orta had won from last season. The test would come in the latter stages and would be the real telling sign of his stamina reserves. It would be a proper test as the leader continued to race keenly in front.

Although the trip is the same at all courses, the long straight at York does seem to take that little bit extra stamina. The leader kicked from a long way out and did catch the field on their heels as the lead quickly extended. As they started to race, Rowan just niggled his mount along down the the outside of the field and Forza Orta began to sweep past rivals. You could see it was himself and the favourite who were travelling best as they loomed up behind the leader.

The race got messy as they entered the final 2f and a domino effect, beginning on the outer, carrying Forza Orta left and hampering himself and the favourite. With the leader continuing to stride out in front, the strong travelling pair were now going to have to dig deep. Rowan tried to suffer his hampering and looked to go for a gap, with his mount full of running. Daylight just wouldn’t appear and Rowan had to change plan, switching around the pair in front of him. The favourite followed tact and both were in the clear.

Entering the final furlong, Forza Orta had a clear run and was finding more. He was finding gears and really hitting his stride. Likewise the favourite was too and it was these two who would sweep past the long time leader. It was neck and neck between the pair and any stamina doubts were well and truly quelled by Forza Orta. Having been full of running, Forza Orta would have been an unlucky loser but now that didn’t matter as he could really knuckle down for the final 1/2f. It was between the leading two and they went hammer and tong. Forza Orta continually held his foe and crossed the line to secure a neck victory.

It was a dream to breed and own a winner at York for Highbank Stud’s founder Martin Wainwright. Unfortunately he never got to witness it but would certainly have been looking down. However poignant and emotional that win was, this topped it and the cheers could be heard around the Knavesmire. Forza Orta looks like he thrived over the extra distance and could well be a cup horse for next year.