Fighting Temeraire Brings Up 499th Win!

FIGHTING TEMERAIRE won again last night and his victory at Chelmsford brought up the 499th success for the yard since Dean Ivory became the name on the trainer’s licence at Harper Lodge Farm in 2002.

The 7yo son of Invincible Spirit went off the 3/1 second favourite in the six-runner seven furlong handicap and he ran out a comfortable one and a half length winner under Adam Kirby from the “jolly”, Full Intention.

Always travelling well, the previous five-times winner was held up but in contention and switched right a furlong from home, he took it up inside the distance and won cosily, staying on well under hands and heels.

Yesterday, the gelding was winning off a mark of 75, just a pound higher than for his course and distance win last December but still considerably lower than his previous highest winning mark of 89 back in 2016.  Clearly, he loves the 7f trip as this was the fifth time he has won over the distance.  He’ll go up for this win but he hardly had a race yesterday and the son of Invincible Spirit could have more to offer.

Fighting Temeraire takes his name from one of Lord Nelson’s gunships in the Battle of Trafalgar and an oil painting of the ship by the 19th century artist, J M W Turner.  Congratulations to winning owners, Michael & Heather Yarrow, who have owned plenty of other multiple winners including Sirius Prospect and Lancelot Du Lac.

The yard went in search of its 500th win when Pledge Of Honour lined up for a mile novice an hour and a half later under Joey Haynes.  Previously third on his first two outings, he ran a fine race to be second but bumped into a very promising debutante of Godolphin, Lord Tennyson, who looks smart.

So, for a little while longer, the champagne’s still on ice…!