Grendisar (pictured) and Rivellino both won Fast-Track Qualifiers for the second successive year at Lingfield Park on Saturday, February 6, to book their places for All-Weather Championships Finals Day on Good Friday, March 25. Grendisar followed up his victory in last year's £45,000 coral.co.uk Winter Derby Trial (2.55pm) with another impressive display for trainer Marco Botti in the 10-furlong Polytrack contest. The six-year-old secured a free and automatic place in the £200,000 Coral Easter Classic over the same course and distance on All-Weather Championships Finals Day - a race in which he finished third in 2015. Held up in mid-field by Adam Kirby, Grendisar ran on strongly to take the lead inside the final furlong and had enough in reserve to see off Evens favourite Festive Fare (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) and score by half a length in 2m 3.68 at odds of 4/1. Marco Botti said: "I am delighted that Grendisar has put his head in front this time. Everything went well and in his favour today - it was a nice, even tempo and he picked up well. "He just does enough in his races and, once he hits the front, he is not a horse that quickens away. "He got the job done and we will head for the Winter Derby again. He keeps performing on the All-Weather, likes Lingfield Park and is back to his best. "He didn't run to his best on his first couple of runs after a break but then we brought him back here and he seems to enjoy it. He is definitely back to where he was last year." Coral make Grendisar a 5/1 chance to win the Group Three £100,000 Coral Winter Derby on February 27, just behind 9/2 favourite Festive Fare. Godolphin assistant trainer James Ferguson commented: "Festive Fare was coming back on the line, after he straightened out and changed his legs back. William said that he is probably better on a flat track - he won his maiden here but didn't change his legs around the bend at all. "He probably still needs a bit of time but I wouldn't be too disappointed with his run today. The Winter Derby is still in the mix and it would be interesting to see him take on the winner again but I will talk to Charlie and see where we go next." Lamar (James Tate/Luke Morris, 8/1), took third, a neck behind Festive Fare, on her final appearance. The five-year-old daughter of Cape Cross will be covered by Frankel following a career that yielded over £150,000 in prize money and five All-Weather wins, headed by a Listed success over Very Special in the Fleur de Lys Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield Park in October. James Tate said: "That is definitely it now and Lamar will go off to stud this week and get covered by Frankel as soon as she is in season. "It is a bit sad to see the back of her but she is rated 105 now and is a Listed winner, together with loads of Listed places. She booked her right to go to any stallion she wants to. "She was beaten half a length and a neck today, giving away a penalty to the first two home. If she didn't have that extra weight, she could have perhaps gone out on an even bigger high. "There is a little bit of wondering how she would get on in the Winter Derby, when she would be getting weight, but it would be cutting it too fine to get her covered this season. "She is valuable as a mare that I completely understand the owners not wanting to miss the upcoming breeding season." Captain Cat (Roger Charlton/Jamie Spencer, 6/1) just failed to snatch third when a short-head behind Lamar after being held up.
Rivellino (pictured below) captured the six-furlong £45,000 Unibet Cleves Stakes (1.45pm) for the second time for trainer Karl Burke to guarantee a Good Friday spot in the £150,000 Unibet All-Weather Sprint Championships Conditions Stakes over the same course and distance. The six-year-old was seventh in the Good Friday feature last year when not getting a clear run and third in 2014.
