Sharadd made to battle but Haggas predicting big future
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Fri 9 Oct 2026
Sharadd maintained an unbeaten start to his career but William Haggas’ exciting juvenile was made to work in the William Hill Epic Boost EBF Novice Stakes at York.
Sent off the 4-9 favourite, the Dark Angel colt was expected to have little trouble in adding to his debut Haydock success.
However, Our Son Oscar proved a tough opponent and Sharadd had to show all his ability to make it two wins from two after he hit the line with a length and a half advantage over Kevin Ryan’s challenger in the hands of Tom Marquand.
Speaking at Newmarket, Haggas said: “He won’t run again this year, but he’s useful. He didn’t look useful today but he is useful.
“I’m glad we took the path we took. He was in some big races and we might have put him in the Listed race tomorrow (Rockingham), but I’m glad we ran today and he won OK, and we learned a bit more about him.
“He’s a long way from being the finished article, but he does have talent and we have to nurture that to try keep him going in the right direction. The key is to find out if they have talent and once you know that, you can try to get the best out of them.”
The beautifully-bred Harper Violet (9-2) powered to William Hill Finale Handicap glory for Karl Burke in a display which had connections dreaming big for next season.
The huge Lope De Vega filly out of Ajman Princess looked a picture in the parade ring and she proved she also has plenty of ability when cruising to success by three-and-a-quarter lengths.
“She’s going to be an absolutely strapping three-year-old,” Burke’s assistant trainer James Cowley said.
“You can see there the physique of her. She’s won that because conditions are ideal and she’s a Pattern horse in a handicap.
“A winter on her back she will be even stronger next year, she stays a-mile-six (furlongs) all day and can probably go even further so I’d say the options are endless at the minute.”
Nakila Sun (5-1) added valuable prize-money in Andrew Balding’s bid for a maiden Flat Trainers Championship title with success in the British EBF £100,000 Final.
The Torquator Tasso colt led from the front in the hands of Jason Watson and never surrendered his early lead as he claimed a two-and-a-half length triumph, adding just over £50,000 to the Kingsclere handler’s coffers in his battle with Aidan O’Brien.
Balding began Friday’s action with a slender lead before Nakila Sun’s victory was quickly followed by Never So Brave at Newmarket in a Group Two.
Assistant trainer Anna Lisa Balding said: “I’m absolutely delighted, he’s a super little horse.”
On the trainers’ championship, she added: “It is good to add this money, but let’s be realistic! Everything is a bonus and to even be in front at this time of the year is a miracle. He’s done quite a good job, hasn’t he?”
Copper Knight brought down the curtain on his illustrious career in the race named after him, which was won by Toca Madera, by coming home in a respectable seventh.
The evergreen 12-year-old, who went off at 40-1, was making his 128th and final start, yielding 20 wins and over £480,000 of earnings, and trainer Tim Easterby could only express delight.
“He’s been a fantastic horse,” Easterby said. “Every time he’s come out and run his race, he’s been brilliant.
“To keep going and keep racing and stay sound and wanting to go to the line – he ran a super race there.
“When they need a bit of speed at the three pole, he just doesn’t have it as much as he used to, but he’s run in the Nunthorpe and he’s been fantastic.”
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