'It was like a Ferrari' - Godolphin colt backed for Guineas after dazzling debut

Saturday: Newmarket

Godolphin's 750,000gns purchase Highbank earned an opening quote of 33-1 and was quickly shortened to 20-1 for next year's Qipco 2,000 Guineas after an ultra-impressive debut.

The Charlie Appleby-trained juvenile, a son of Kingman and half-brother to former stablemate Bay Of Poets, quickened to excellent effect in the final furlong of the 7f maiden, stretching clear for a three-and-three-quarter-length defeat of shorter-priced stablemate Bold Act to seal a hat-trick for Appleby and a four-timer for Godolphin in the race.

Subsequent Autumn Stakes scorer Military March also struck on debut for fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor in 2019, with Appleby successful with Dhahabi and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and French 2,000 Guineas winner Modern Games in the two most recent runnings.

Highbank's rider Jack Mitchell said: "He was very green going down to the start, but he jumped well. He got a little lost early – we went quick for the first furlong – but the field eventually stacked up and he got into a good rhythm.

"When I gave him a squeeze it was like dropping two gears in a Ferrari – he was away and gone."

Charity the big winner

Newmarket was hosting the Glenn Roeder Raceday in memory of the former footballer and manager who used to visit both Newmarket courses regularly before succumbing to a brain tumour last year.

Roeder's widow Faith, sons Joe and Will and daughter Holly were among 360 family and friends present on a day which raised approaching £200,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity. The many guests included Rob Lee, who once played under Roeder at West Ham.

The feature race was the £50,000 Glenn Roeder Race Day Handicap which was won by the improving 7-4 favourite Lethal Levi, trained by Karl Burke.

Roeder was captain of Newcastle in his playing days and Lethal Levi led by example himself here when making all under Pierre-Louis Jamin.

Commenting on the day, Roeder's son Will said: "It's been wonderful. We could only have 30 people at Dad's funeral due to Covid so people who couldn't come then have paid their respects today.

"I think we've raised nearly £50,000 in the live auction for charity as well as over £100,000 more online."

Glenn Roeder's family (from left to right): Will, Faith, Holly and Joe Roeder

Trainer turned sponsor

Trainer Clive Cox sponsored the 7f fillies' handicap, won by the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Dubai Love, and was happy to be contributing to a cause close to his heart.

He said: "Even though I never actually knew Glenn personally, when his daughter Holly and Michael O'Hagan told me about this day I wanted to help as the brain tumour charity means a lot to me. I'm very pleased to be able to sponsor a race and add a bit of something to the day.

"We were supposed to run Night Narcissus in it and win it back ourselves, but the thunderstorms stayed away and the ground was too quick for her to run."

On the St Leger trail

Francesco Clemente showed what he regularly does on the gallops in the morning when taking his three rivals apart in the afternoon in the 1m2f handicap under Rab Havlin.

John and Thady Gosden's strapping colt was cut to 6-1 (from 7) by Paddy Power for the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York after scoring by nine lengths like a 2-7 chance should.

The son of Dubawi remains a 12-1 shot for the Cazoo St Leger and will go up in trip next time.

Barry O'Dowd, assistant to the Gosdens, said: "We gave a bit of time after his last run and we've always liked him."

Results, replays analysis

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