Newbury strike puts Hamish close to joining millionaire club

William Haggas’ veteran Hamish moved to within £40,000 of becoming a millionaire after winning the BetVictor St Simon Stakes at Newbury.

The popular nine-year-old is well known as a mud-lover so this summer’s draught had restricted him to just three previous runs.

To his credit he had won two of those, at Goodwood and Chester, but he did not seem to be enjoying himself in the early stages here. By the time Ancient Wisdom had hit the front, however, Tom Marquand moved into his slipstream before pulling him out to go and win impressively, by two and a half lengths.

Haggas, whose late father, Brian, bred Hamish, was not at Newbury, but said of the popular 7-2 winner: “He’s a remarkable horse.

“I didn’t think he was racing going down the back, but he came good up the straight.

“This is all down to Maureen (Haggas, wife). She’s been with him from the start and rides him every day. She tells me when he’s ready and tells me when to run or not.

“Today is the first time he’s had his ideal conditions all season. Maybe at Goodwood it was soft, but not like he likes it, and Chester we just about got away with it.

“It’s great and as long as he’s enjoying it we’ll carry on until he tells us he’s not. He’ll be back next year, why not?

“Another £40,000 takes him over the £1million mark and apart from Ireland a couple of times and once in France that’s all been earned here. He’s so enthusiastic, it’s great, today’s was a good race.”

At the other end of the scale Haggas and Marquand were also on the mark with 1,700,000 guinea newcomer My Ophelia (evens favourite) in the first division of the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes. Stablemate Earth Shot was second, two lengths away.

“They both ran really well,” said Haggas.

“My Opehlia looked very promising, but I’ve absolutely no idea where she’d go next, all options are open.”

Sir Mark Prescott’s Alpinara, a sister to his Arc winner Alpinista, could finish only seventh.

The BetVictor Horris Hill Stakes was won in fine style by Charlie Appleby’s Time To Turn (7-4 favourite).

He had been quietly fancied for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend but ran no sort of a race, finishing eighth.

Back down in Group Three company he looked in a different league to his rivals, winning by two and a quarter lengths.

“We’re delighted to get his head back in front,” said Appleby.

“We walked away from Lonchamp a little bit disappointed but he came out of it so well we were happy to back him up again.

“He’s obviously appreciated the ground and that will be him done now for the year.

“In the spring we’ll look for an ease in the ground and possibly work back from races like the Jersey, potentially.

“I think it’s a case of looking for the ground really, but it’s great to get his head back in front.”