TROPICS may be ten years of age but he still loves his racing and clearly enjoys trips to Chelmsford as yesterday he won his third race at the Essex track and he won it easily.
Nine lined up for the Bet toteswinger At totesport.com Essex Sprint Handicap over 5f, a valuable 0-105 handicap for three-year-olds and upwards, worth some £50,000 with over £32,000 going to the winner. The vetereran sprinter was drawn five and Robert Winston rode a very confident race on the chestnut son of Speightstown. They tracked the leading pair, switched right and went between the front two inside the final furlong before going on to assert and win comfortably by 2 1/4 lengths from Verne Castle.
Tropics was winning his 12th race in 43 races and the former dual July Cup runner-up still has plenty of pace to win at a decent level over the minimum trip. Currently rated 100, he’ll undoubtedly go up a few pounds for a very authoritative performance and there’s a possibility he could go back to Chelmsford next Wednesday in a bid for a fourth win at the track and the third over course and distance.
Well done to lass Natalie Byrne who won Best Turned Out for Tropics. She’s won more Best Turned Out awards for the horse than one could throw a stick at.
Tropics’ success was the yard’s third winner in three days following the Lingfield double on Tuesday and the 22nd win of the yard for Harper Lodge Farm. The horses are running well and Nezar nearly made it win number 23 under stable apprentice, Jack Duern, when the 25/1 shot was gunned down at the finish in a 7f handicap at Kempton.
The yard has several of its big guns entered at Royal Ascot next week and it’s good to see the horses running well going into the Royal meeting.