NEZAR kick-started 2020 for Harper Lodge Farm on the third day of the New Year with a win at Wolverhampton yesterday over seven furlongs under stable apprentice, Sophie Ralston by a short-head at the rewarding odds of 14/1!
The nine-year-old chestnut son of Mastercraftsman was a previous three-times course winner, including once over course and distance and was on a fairly handy mark, just one pound higher than his last win back in May at Dunstall Park.
Drawn four of 10, he was always handy although was a tad too keen in the early stages of a steadily run race. Turning into the straight, he found a gap and kept on well to gain a narrow success and take his record to four wins out of 13 starts at the track and two out of seven for Sophie Ralston.
How did he go off at 14/1 given such a fine record at the course? The yard has been fairly quiet during the last couple of months so that might help explain the double figure odds starting price but whatever the reason, owner, Mrs Doreen Carter will have been delighted. She took over ownership of the horse a year ago and has been rewarded with a second success. Congratulations to Doreen, who also has Dor’s Law, Dor’s Diamond and Dor’s Toyboy in training. What a great start to 2020!
Congratulations to stable apprentice, five pound claimer, Sophie Ralston, who rode seven winners for the yard last year at an impressive 12% strike rate.
Last year the stable had a record year with 42 wins but during the last couple of months, the yard was not quite firing and winners were hard to come by. Hopefully, Nezar’s success is the start of good things to come in the early part of 2020!