Beverley Double Continues Red Hot Start
The turf season is starting to get into full awing and the horses are in fine form. It is an important time of year as 2yo’s are beginning their careers whilst some 3yo’s are trying to improve their handicaps for the bigger races coming up. Tropical Dreamer made a winning debut before Bowen Island gained his first success at Beverley.
Bungleinthejungle has been a good source of winners for Kevin in recent times. With a good amount of success, the yard has seen more of his progeny coming through there gates. Tropical Dreamer is a typical stamp of his sire, and he he showed bags of potential when winning the 5f IREIncentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Restricted novice Stakes.
Tropical Dreamer had been very forward in his work from day one and shown a good amount of ability at home. Although he had shaped as an earlier type, there was a feeling that he may well want 6f at some point. With this in mind, connections waited with the juvenile before the opportunity arose at Beverley. The East Yorkshire track is perfect for 2yo’s like Tropical Dreamer, with the stiff finish offering that little bit of a stamina test where they don’t need to be rushed into the race.
There were 12 runners set to line up, with a couple of the field bringing in some decent form. Tropical Dreamer had a lovely draw in stall one, but it could prove troublesome if inexperience scuppered the colt. With Tom Eaves in the saddle, Tropical Dreamer jumped nicely and got into his stride well. Those with experience moved to the fore which gave Tom a nice bit of cover just in behind the pace. Having taken the pre-lims very professionally, Tropical Dreamer was showing he same attitude through the early stages of the race.
Travelling nicely throughout the contest, Tropical Dreamer came into the final couple of furlongs looking like he was full of running. You could see Tom just looking for a bit of room as those around him began to move forward to challenge. Looking inside there was no room up the rail so Tom had to wait, whilst his rivals were moving through the gears. There was no panic as the final 1 1/2f would stiffen up allowing Tropical Dreamer to finish.
Angling out for a run, Tropical Dreamer got the daylight he had been waiting for and now Tom could get to work. Just over a furlong from home, Tropical Dreamer began to lengthen and immediately cut into the leaders advantage. To the eye it looked as though he was the most likely winner but there was always the worry of inexperience. Fortunately Tropical Dreamer maintained that professionalism and strode out up the hill. He was challenged all the way to the line but Tropical Dreamer was doing enough and had more to give if required. He took his first career win by 1/2 length, making the perfect start.
Tropical Dreamer is a lovely physical but also has a good mind to match. Whilst he had been showing plenty at home, you just never know how they take to the track but he was a saint throughout. travelling well he then managed to quicken up and really saw the stiff 5f out well. He did have a little look around when he hit the front so it feels as though he won with quite a bit in hand.
Later in the card there was another first time winner for the yard. Bowen Island has been threatening since day once but it has taken him quite a bit longer than expected to break his maiden. Despite having plenty against him, the 3yo took the 7 1/2f Alan McGuiness And Robin Lunes Memorial Handicap completing a double for the yard and Tom Eaves.
Bowen Island has certainly been a slow burner, very different to his sire, the yard’s crack sprinter Hello Youmzain. Big, scopey with a giant stride, Bowen Island has shown a lot of promise without getting his head in front. Having run in some good maidens and novices, he was given his winter break with a fair mark of 81 to start with as a 3yo. Having wintered well, strengthened up, Bowen Island finished runner up on the all weather on his seasonal return.
A win look to be just around the corner, so the 7 1/2f at Beverley looked like it could play to his strengths. Just five runners went to post and what looked like a tactical affair turned out to be a nicely run race. Stable mate Territorial Knight, who was having his first run of the year, raced a little keen early on which forced a decent gallop. Bowen Island did try to go on early, but Tom got the better and settled the Gedling into third place, just behind the pace.
Beverley sees the track swing right handed for a lot of he 7f trip and the five runners took the bend at a fair clip. Bowen Island wasn’t the most fluent and Tom had to gather a hold of the 3yo as they came out of the bend and past the 3f marker. There was no panic but Tom was keen to get his mount balanced and striding out before the race really heated up.
Moving inside the final 2f there was change up front with Territorial Knight taking over and setting sail for him. Bowen Island had a couple of lengths to make but he was rolling around a bit as Tom began to work away. It was the rising ground that helped because once Bowen Island hit it he could really use his stamina. All the way up to the final 1/2f he was not really comfortable but was making headway. When he pulled alongside his table mate, with 100 yards to go, that’s when Bowen Island hit top gear. Swiftly he swept past the leader and galloped away, winning a shade cosily by 3/4 length.
Bowen Island is a talented horse but is still a work in progress. The ground had been tightening up and he would not like that so he can be forgiven for rolling around a bit. The final stages were his best and a step up to 1m would not be out of the question. He has got his head in front now and there is much more to come from the 3yo, especially with some of the top handicaps throughout the season when he gets a little bit of cut in ground.