Betty Clover has Johnson Houghton in raptures with York victory
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Fri 17 May 2024
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Betty Clover came to the fore to land the Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York.
The Time Test two-year-old, who was bred and is owned by her trainer, won on debut and then came home behind Running Queen when last seen in a Salisbury conditions race.
Moving up in grade to Listed level on the Knavesmire, made ground stealthily on the far side of runners and picked off her rivals in the closing stages of the five-furlong contest to eventually prevail by half a length from Miss Lamai, having started at 12-1. Running Queen was third on this occasion.
Georgia Dobie has been in the saddle for all of the filly’s starts and said of the success: “She’s really tough, she was a little bit outpaced halfway through and I thought she might need six, but the further she went the better.
“She just got there in time. I think she’ll be quite exciting over six, she’s homebred and she’s just blossomed into a lovely little filly.
“Everyone just adores her, she’s so straightforward which I think is the key really. She’s got no quirks, I really appreciate the ride.”
Johnson Houghton, who was watching from her local track in Newbury, said: “That was amazing! I think everyone in Newbury knows I won with her! I was a little bit noisy.
“I bred her and I’m so wildly excited, I just can’t believe it.
“I thought she had a chance of a place and I thought she had a chance of turning the form round with Running Queen, who got first run on us last time.
“Georgia gave her the most beautiful ride. I’m very proud of my jockey, she doesn’t get many chances and bloody hell she’s good. She should be saluted for that
“We have to look at Ascot. I don’t know which race. It’s a very fast five furlongs at York and she travelled all right into it, but we’ll have a think.”
Karl Burke has a good record in the race and saddled three fillies this time, with Miss Lamai doing the best of the trio under Callum Rodriguez.
“I thought she had it won at the furlong pole, but she was probably in front a little too long and she got a bit lonely,” the trainer said.
“We were beaten fair and square on the line. She’s a very nice filly. I thought she was the better of my three in the race, but I thought she’d be better over six furlongs later on rather than now. But she’s obviously learned a hell of a lot.
“She’s a good filly, I’ll have to speak to the owners whether we go to Ascot for the Queen Mary, she wouldn’t be disgraced, that’s for sure.”
Running Queen and Oisin Murphy crossed the line a length and three-quarters behind the winner.
Trainer Ollie Sangster said of the run: “Very happy, third in a Listed race.
“Obviously the form has been overturned from Salisbury – maybe the change in ground or something, not too sure.
“She will go to Ascot now, Oisin seems to think the Queen Mary is the logical one, but we will have a think and it will be one or the other anyway.”
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