Double delight for Fahey tempers big-race disappointment

Jun 30 2008 The Journal

RICHARD Fahey may have hit the bar with Halla San in the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate, but Utmost Respect and Elmfield Boy still gave the trainer plenty to smile about.

Utmost Respect earned himself a quote of 25-1 with Paddy Power for the July Cup after he secured a dramatic win in the opening Journal Chipchase Stakes.

Sent off the 11-4 market leader for the Group Three, Utmost Respect hit the front a furlong out under Paul Hanagan, only to drift across the track to the stands rail.

That move forced Jamie Spencer to snatch up eventual second Zidane. Despite handing Hanagan a two-day ban for careless riding at the subsequent inquiry, the stewards left the result unchanged.

Fahey said: “He did it really well and he has got some massive entries, including the July Cup. He is also in the seven-furlong handicap at Ascot (totesport International Stakes) so we will have to see what we do now. The ground is important as he likes a bit of cut.”

Elmfield Boy (4-1) then did the business in the EBF/Tarmac Maiden Stakes to provide owner Mike Browne with his own double following Buachaill Dona’s win in the Gosforth Park Cup on Friday.

Fahey added: “We have always liked this horse and he could be a real racehorse one day.”

Royal Ascot also-ran Redford (7-4 favourite) made a quick return to action in the toteswinger Handicap.

Michael Bell’s decision to turn out again so soon was justified with a length-and-a-quarter victory.

Bell said: “A mile or this seven furlongs suits Redford, Jamie came back and apologised for hitting the front too soon at Ascot last time (over a mile), he just needs to come late. We brought him here to try to win to make sure he gets in the seven-furlong totesport International at Ascot at the end of July.”

Geojimali finished with a flourish to deny Pawan a deserved victory in the totescoop6 Handicap. Pawan is a tough performer but has not won in nearly two years, a statistic he looked set to right just yards from the post.

However, Geojimali came with a flying run to edge out Pawan – whose trainer-rider Ann Stokell put up 4lb overweight – by a head.

Winning trainer Jim Goldie said: “I must admit I never thought he had got up.

“But we did fancy him. The ground was okay and everything was top dollar really. I told John (Egan) to ride him with real balls, settling him in last and to come late.” Neil Callan was suspended one day (July 15) for careless riding on fourth-placed Rising Shadow.

Callan’s luck changed in the totesport.com Handicap, however, as the jockey booted home Alan Swinbank’s Tarkheena Prince (6-1) to an accomplished verdict over Hawkit.

Swinbank finished the card with a flourish as Stevie Thunder then showed courage under Paul Mulrennan to take the concluding Graphite Resources Handicap.

The Melsonby handler was winning the one-mile contest for a third consecutive season.