Al Agaila out to confirm trial impression in talkSPORT Winter Oaks Impressive trial winner Al Agaila looks to double up in the £100,000 talkSPORT Winter Oaks (2.12pm), the centrepiece of Lingfield Park’s Winter Million card on Saturday, January 21. Simon & Ed Crisford’s filly has an 11lb rise to overcome in the fillies’ handicap after making a mockery of the talkSPORT Winter Oaks Trial over the course and distance in December, when she barely came off the bridle to win by two and a half lengths. Makinmedoit fared best of those held up the trial, finishing strongly to take second, and her trainer Harry Eustace is hoping that she can reverse the form. The four-year-old had previously defeated the boys in a class two handicap at the track in November. Eustace also saddles winning hurdler At A Pinch, who has not raced on the Flat since contesting the Listed River Eden Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield Park in October 2021 for John and Thady Gosden. Eustace said: “Makinmedoit has come out of the Winter Oaks Trial in great form. “She has a 10lb swing in the weights with Al Agaila, which frankly does not look enough, but we came from much further back that day in a muddling race. “Makinmedoit seems to love the track and Saturday’s race is a smaller field, so you never know. There is great prize money on offer and hopefully she can get some of it. “At A Pinch has not run on the Flat for a while but, given the prize money, I felt the last thing we could do is not run her. She has won on the all-weather and is a big filly who has done very well with time. “She is a bit of a googly, don’t get me wrong, and it may all be a bit sharp for her, but she is there to race, so we might as well.” Charlie Fellowes also has two contenders in top-weight Purple Ribbon and the consistent Tequilamockingbird. Purple Ribbon arrives on the back of a career-best second in the Listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton Park, while Tequilamockingbird was a short-head behind Makinmedoit in the trial. David Simcock and owner Major Michael Wyatt sent out Lower Street to win the inaugural running of this race in 2022. The duo are represented by Aiming High, who won an 11-furlong handicap at Southwell on New Year’s Day. William Haggas saddles Morgan Fairy, the winner of a mile handicap at the track last month, while multiple turf winner The Flying Ginger makes just her second appearance on the all-weather for Roger Fell. Elsewhere on the card, The Bell Conductor looks to enhance his excellent all-weather record for Paul Midgley in the BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Handicap (2.47pm). The opposition includes course and distance scorers Strong Power and Lord Riddiford.
About the All-Weather Championships Season 10 of the All-Weather Championships runs from Tuesday, October 18, 2022, and culminates with All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle on Good Friday, April 7, 2023.
The six championship categories are:
*Three-Year-Olds sponsored by News UK - 6f Final *Fillies & Mares sponsored by News UK - 7f Final *Mile sponsored by Spreadex Sports - 1m Final *Sprint sponsored by BetUK - 6f Final *Marathon sponsored by BetUK - 2m Final *Middle Distance sponsored BetUK - 10f Final
There are two ways for horses to qualify for one of the finals on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle:
* A horse can win a 'Fast-Track Qualifier' race which will ensure a FREE and GUARANTEED place in the corresponding final on Good Friday. There are four Fast-Track Qualifiers in each of the six championship categories hosted at racecourses in Great Britain, Ireland and France. If a filly wins any of the Fast-Track Qualifier races for either the Sprint or the Mile categories, the filly will be qualified for the final of that specific category, or for the Fillies and Mares Final. or * A horse must run a minimum of three times on the All-Weather surfaces in Great Britain, Ireland and France; or twice on the All-Weather surfaces in Great Britain, Ireland, France and once on dirt in Dubai or Saudi Arabia during the qualifying period between October 18, 2022 and the six-day entry stage for the finals (Saturday, April 1, 2023) and then be rated high enough to 'make the cut' in a final by order of its BHA Rating.
In addition, prizes will be awarded to each of the All-Weather Champions - the 'All Stars' - based on the number of winners at the end of the All-Weather Championships season:
Champion All-Weather Jockey (winner and runner up) Champion All-Weather Apprentice Jockey (winner and runner up) Champion All-Weather Trainer Champion All-Weather Owner
For more information on the All-Weather Championships, please visit:
For more information, please contact:
Sam Cone Head of Communications and Public Affairs Arena Racing Company Office: 020 7802 5120 Mobile: 07920 404 296 |
