Kingdom Come and Nine Tenths teed themselves up for Finals Day with strong performances at Wolverhampton’s flagship All-Weather Championships fixture on Saturday.
Kingdom Come is likely to be a leading contender for the Mile final after edging out Irish raider Final Voyage in the BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap, with the handicapper raising him 2lb to 103.
Clive Cox’s five-year-old has now won four of his six all-weather starts and placed on his other two, including an eye-catching third behind Dear My Friend at Lingfield Park’s AWC Trials Day at the start of the month.
Winning jockey Rossa Ryan said: “Kingdom Come has tended to be slowly out of the gates. My plan was to jump, go forward, and let the pace from out wide come across me and get in. That did not work, so I hunted around and had the horse when I needed him.
“Clive has always held this lad in high regard and he is developing into a lovely horse. The middle of last year did not to go to plan for him, but Clive has got him back on track.
“I think we would have given Dear My Friend a proper race the last day had we not gone so slow, but we had to drop in from a wide draw as he can be keen.”
Nine Tenths appreciated the return to seven furlongs as she comfortably saw her off Misty Grey and Shouldvebeenaring in the Listed BetMGM Lady Wulfruna Stakes.
An impressive winner over the course and distance in December, Nine Tenths finished second on her two subsequent starts, including behind Dear My Friend in the mile Listed BetMGM Tandridge Stakes at Lingfield Park.
The four-year-old remains on a handicap mark of 100 and could now head for the Fillies & Mares final, a race her trainer captured last year with Queen Aminatu and in 2018 with Diagnostic.
William Buick, who was partnering the filly for the first time, said: “Nine Tenths did everything right and seven furlongs is probably her trip. She is very straightforward, tries hard, and has won well.
“She was very fluent throughout the race – very smooth and relaxed. She looked a picture beforehand and having race fitness on her side was a help.”
Elsewhere, the George Scott-trained Watch My Tracer secured Listed honours in the BetMGM Spring Cup at Lingfield Park on Thursday. A dual winner on turf last year, the son of Dandy Man swooped down the outside to beat Queen Of Zafeen and G3 victor Orne in a three-way finish.
Racing League scorer Valsad landed another nice prize at Southwell’s Sunday evening fixture for Jamie Osborne, a race in which November Handicap victor Onesmoothoperator filled the runner-up spot.
Rossa Ryan has all but secured the All-Weather Champion Jockey title, with Kingdom Come’s success among 15 winners for the Irishman in the last fortnight. Ryan’s total of 84 wins puts him 28 clear of his nearest challenger Billy Loughnane.
Mick Appleby tops All-Weather Champion Trainer leaderboard with 42 successes as he closes in on an eighth title. Charlie Johnston is next best on 37 and Tony Carroll third on 35.
