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James Ferguson gave Qatar Racing their first British winner of the year, and followed that up when Art Gallery carried the maroon colours to victory in the mile fillies’ handicap.
The daughter of St Mark’s Basilica had to do it the hard way after blowing the start under PJ McDonald, but came with a late surge in the straight to deny the gambled-on Plaid, one of a string of short-priced market leaders to be beaten on a card which featured no winning favourites.
Ferguson gave Sheikh Fahad Al Thani’s operation their first win of the year when Oscar Nominee scored at Wolverhampton in February, and the trainer is excited at the prospect of sending Art Gallery onto the turf.
He said: “Art Gallery was a bit ring-rusty, as she showed at the start, but PJ gave her a great ride and despite him dropping his rein in the final furlong she stayed straight. We knew the second was fancied and she had worked nicely, but you never know first time back.
“She’s had all of her four runs on the all-weather now, and we need to get her on turf. We;ll see what the handicapper does, but hopefully there’s a nice race for her in the coming weeks over a mile, although she may get further in time.”
Sizzling strike
Clive Cox made a winning start to the turf season at Doncaster on Sunday, and kept his momentum going on the all-weather a day later when Sizzling Seixas made all to land the 6f novice under Hector Crouch.
The jockey sent the 9-1 chance straight to the front, and the three-year-old had enough her sleeve to repel the challenge of odds-on favourite Barefoot Beach, who was carrying a 7lb penalty.
A daughter of Havana Grey, Sizzling Seixas was stepping up on her debut fourth behind the useful Champonie at Wolverhampton this month.
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