Ten Bob Tony leaves it late to deny Witness Stand

Ten Bob Tony lunged late to deny long-time leader Witness Stand victory in the Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes on Derby day at Epsom.

Eight runners went to post for a Group Thee contest run in driving rain and having undergone wind surgery since his last run and fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time it was Group Two winner Witness Stand looked back to his best out in front, with Billy Loughnane quick to bag the near-side rail early in the straight.

But while he galloped strongly to the line, Kieran Shoemark produced the Ed Walker-trained Ten Bob Tony (11-2) with a withering run and he got up in the shadow of the post to prevail by a head. Poet Master finished third, with the top two in the market – Never So Brave and Alcantor – unable to get into it from the rear.

Walker said: “He needs these conditions, that was mega, it was very easy watching and Kieran gave him a peach.

“He relaxed lovely and a few of the fancied horses never really got into it so it panned out really well.

“He won this race last year (when run at Haydock as the John of Gaunt) and we hoped he’d go on and have a good year but it never really happened, mainly because it was quick ground all summer. He did run great in the Foret.

“I think we’ve just got to pick our battles, annoyingly a seven-furlong Group One or Two doesn’t grow on trees. The Foret is his race.

“It’s hard to know exactly what to do with him. Would you have a go at the Prix Maurice de Gheest if it came up soft? There’s the City of York over seven, but I’d probably rather go up to a mile than back down to six as we’ve tried that.

“If he runs over something other than seven I’d say it will be a mile and worse horses than him have won Group Ones.”