NICKY BABY broke his duck yesterday at Chelmsford in fine style, winning at the very rewarding odds of 25/1 for his owner Mrs Doreen Carter.
The five-year-old grey gelding by Dark Angel was one of 13 runners in the Classified Stakes over a mile for four-year-olds and upwards rated 0-50 and they included stablemate, Red Cossack, who was the more fancied in the market at 7/2. Ridden by seven pound claimer, Sophie Ralston, Nicky Baby took a keen hold but hit the front from the start and made all and in front was where he stayed to beat the favourite, Imperial Act by a length and a quarter. This was an impressive performance from the grey who was the joint-lowest rated on 42 and therefore worse off at the weights with eleven of the field, although Sophie’s seven pound claim helped mitigate that disadvantage.
Prior to yesterday, Nicky Baby had recorded just one second and three fourths in 23 races but there were signs that his turn may not be far away when last time out he was beaten just 1 3/4 lengths over a mile and a quarter at Lingfield. That was the first time Sophie Ralston had ridden him and the drop back in trip to a mile clearly suited yesterday and he duly obliged. This was Sophie’s first win of the year from just fourteen rides so congratulations to her.
Congratulations also to winning owner, Mrs Doreen Carter, whose patience with Nicky Baby has been rewarded. Doreen has had horses at Harper Lodge Farm for many years and her current string includes Soaring Spirits, who has won nine times for her in 67 starts.
Yesterday’s victory was the stable’s third winner from eleven races this month and now puts the yard on nine wins for the year.