The opening weeks of the new All-Weather Championships season threw up some potential Finals Day pointers, with Boatswain (pictured) and Colombier landing class two events at Kempton Park.
Colombier was a decisive winner of a seven-furlong handicap at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue for Hamad Al Jehani on November 4, when he picked up strongly to beat Cosi Bello by a length and a quarter.
Successful on Oaks Day at Epsom Downs earlier this year, the six-year-old had failed to make the frame on four subsequent turf starts, including a fifth at Newmarket’s July Festival and unlucky sixth at Glorious Goodwood.
Jockey James Doyle said: “Colombier has had some sticky draws this year and not quite hit the heights we hoped. He ran a stormer at Goodwood, where we dropped him in from the widest draw, and I felt he would have won that day but for getting squeezed up a furlong out.
“It was nice for him to get his head in front. It was very simple and, with that draw [2], we could either lead or take a lead. It was a bit sketchy where the pace would come from, but I was happy after a furlong once everything settled down. He was very comfortable throughout.
“Hamad and the team will decide now whether he goes to the Middle East or stays here for a programme of races. He is just a very likeable horse. I have always thought there is a big one in him, so hopefully that can come next year.”
Boatswain continued his excellent strike rate on the all-weather in a two-mile handicap on October 21. Still last of the 14 runners two furlongs out, the four-year-old swooped down the outside under Harry Davies to win by a length from Guildmaster.
Trained by Simon Crisford, Boatswain was recording his third win from four starts on artificial surfaces, following a novice success at Lingfield Park and 13-length handicap victory at Southwell.
Davies said: “There looked to be loads of pace on paper, so I decided to ride Boatswain for a lot of luck and managed to tag on to the back of Guildmaster and follow him round.
“I thought it looked messy on the inside at the top of the straight and was just waiting for a little bit of room to get out. Once I got out, he really picked up and I think he really enjoyed coming back to the all-weather.”
The handicapper responded to Boatswain’s success with a 6lb hike to 96, while Colombier is up 5lb to 99.
Elsewhere, Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan enjoyed a notable result with his sprinters at Dundalk as Washington Heights repelled stablemate Ain’t Nobody by a neck to claim the G3 Mercury Stakes on his all-weather debut.
Charibelle ended No Lunch’s eight-race win streak on France’s all-weather circuit with a game short-neck verdict in the Listed Prix Irish River over seven furlongs. Stephane Wattel’s filly had finished runner-up in three other black type events, including July’s G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis.
Shadwell filly Yamnah might be a candidate for next month’s BetMGM Winter Oaks Trial having got off the mark at the third attempt in an 11-furlong maiden at Southwell. Trained by John & Thady Gosden, the daughter of Pinatubo has an opening rating of 83.
Beaujon could be another three-year-old to follow this winter following a striking novice performance at the same track. Third on debut at Kempton Park, Brian Meehan’s contender stretched out nicely to take the mile contest by almost four lengths, despite showing signs of greenness.
