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Molatham on upward curve with Convivial strike at York
Molatham backed up a promising effort on debut when grinding out victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes at York.
The son of Night Of Thunder was no match for Mums Tipple, who bolted up in the valuable sales race on the Knavesmire on Thursday, at Ascot in July but was sent off the 2-1 favourite to land Europe’s richest maiden contest.
Placed just behind the leaders, jockey Jim Crowley eased Molotham into contention two furlongs out before digging in deep to repel the challenge of the Celtic Art, who was a neck second.
The pair pulled clear of Dubai Mirage in third, while Port of Paint was a further seven lengths back in fourth.
The win gave Crowley a quickfire double after Battaash’s stunning success in the Nunthorpe Stakes earlier on the card.
Winning trainer Roger Varian said: “He’s a lovely horse who is all about the future really – he’s still a bit of a baby who has got to grow into himself yet.
“He’s got a wonderful attitude and that should stand him in good stead going forward.”
Molatham has multiple options later on in the season, but the Newmarket-based handler was in no rush to commit his charge to future targets.
“He’s got all the entries, but we should digest today and see how he comes out of the race,” Varian added.
“I think he’ll come forward for the run as he was in a proper race today and it’ll only do him good.”
Tamreer produced a major upset with a determined success in the Sky Bet Handicap.
Roger Fell’s four-year-old had been third in a Listed race on her penultimate start, but failed to fire at Doncaster last time out and was sent off a 33-1 chance for the mile-and-a-half contest.
Positioned just off the pace by jockey Ben Curtis, Tamreer made smooth headway two furlongs out and stayed on stoutly to deny Corelli by a neck.
Favourite Caradoc was a further neck back in third, while Gibbs Hill made eyecatching late progress to finish fourth.
“I didn’t think she had a cat in hell’s chance, which shows you what I know!” Fell said.
“It’s great to have a winner here – I can’t believe it. A winner at the Ebor meeting is different class.
“I expected the jockey to come back in and say she wasn’t fit, but she’s obviously got fitter for putting weight on and she looks a lot stronger.”
The North Yorkshire-based handler is keeping options open for the daughter of New Approach and she could be pitched into higher company on her next start.
“She’s got black type and the only way it could get better is by winning a Listed race,” he added.
“That would give her really good value, so we’ll see what we can find.”
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