ADAM KIRBY rode a well judged ride on Fighting Temeraire (pictured) to land the spoils at Chelmsford yesterday after events didn’t quite go to plan last time out.
Twenty-four days previously, the pair were drawn seven of fourteen at the Essex track in a 0-75 handicap over 7f for three-year-olds and upwards. Unfortunately, as soon as the stalls opened, the hood came off the six-year-old son of Invincible Spirit a tad late and he stumbled and unseated the rider giving Adam Kirby no chance.
As coincidence would have it, in exactly the same type of race over course and distance, Temeraire was drawn seven of fourteen again. This time however, the hood came off quicker and although the horse was not fast away, at least horse and rider stayed as one.
The in-running comments from the Racing Post read: “Dwelt and pushed along into midfield, headway between rivals 2f out, switched right and ridden to chase clear leader entering final furlong, stayed on strongly to lead post.” It was an impressive turn of foot in the home straight as Fighting Temeraire charged home to win his third race of the year by a neck from Extraordinair but his first ever on the all-weather from nine starts.
Adam Kirby is one of the best riders on the all-weather and his win on the yard’s horse, who went off at 10/1, was the second victory that night in a 396/1 four-timer at the track. Congratulations to owners Michael and Heather Yarrow for whom it was their twelfth success this year.
Harper Lodge Farm has been relatively quiet this autumn and this was the only the third win in the last two months. However, it did put the yard on the 42 win mark for the year, three more than the highest achieved, in 2013 and last year.