Mount Athos completed a rare feat at Kempton Park last week as he won the same seven-furlong class two handicap for a fourth successive year.
Placed behind No Lunch in a pair of Listed contests earlier this season, the seven-year-old returned to the Sunbury-on-Thames course following a rare below-par effort at the track in early January.
Sent to the front by James Doyle, Mount Athos displayed a tenacious attitude as he repelled hot favourite Sarab Star by half a length, with Mile final hopeful Apiarist shaping with promise in third.
Now rated 108, Mount Athos has proved prolific on the all-weather for James Tate, winning six of his seven starts at Kempton Park as well as taking Deauville’s Listed Prix Irish River in 2024.
Doyle said: “Mount Athos jumped well from his kind draw [2]. I could see Tom [Marquand] wanted to take a lead on Sarab Star as it was his first run for a while, so we took advantage of that. I was able to dictate things and Mount Athos is pretty good when you can do that.
“When you get an uncontested lead, you try to go as slow as you can, but Mount Athos is a big, exuberant mover who can get in a bit of a muddle because he does not have the most natural gait. You have to keep things fairly simple, but he is a gorgeous horse and we have been on quite a journey.
“I remember James ringing me years ago to say that he had a pretty nice two-year-old. I galloped him before he ran and, although I could not ride him on debut, we have had plenty of nice days since. James has done a great job keeping him sound and, because of his unusual gait, tries to select tracks which are as level as possible.”
The William Haggas-trained First Principle set himself up for the Mile final with a game neck verdict in a valuable prize at Wolverhampton. Runner-up in the BetMGM Lincoln Trial over the same course and distance 13 days prior, the progressive four-year-old is up a further 3lb to 96.
While Finals Day is not on the agenda for Fahrenheit Seven, Robert Cowell’s sprinter showed a classy change of gear to run down Clearpoint in a warm race at Southwell. Successful in a similar contest at Newcastle on his other start this winter, the five-year-old has a revised rating of 103 and could be ready for Listed level.
Newcastle played host to several notable performances, with Fast Track Harry following up last month’s AWC Trials Day win with success in a six-furlong handicap. Up to a mark of 99 for Clive Cox, the four-year-old is likely to be aimed at the Wokingham during Royal Ascot.
Alther Walden became the first Hungarian-bred horse to win an all-weather race in Britain as he comfortably landed a 12-furlong handicap for George Scott. Making his first appearance since winning a Catterick novice in August, the Study Of Man gelding will race off 86 next time out.
Sea The Stars colt Wareeth made a sparkling debut for Archie Watson as he spreadeagled the field to win a mile novice by 14 lengths. The 510,000 guineas purchase could take in another novice before stepping up in class.
With 10 days of the season remaining, the champion jockey, trainer and owner accolades look all but confirmed with Billy Loughnane, Tony Carroll and Godolphin holding commanding leads. There remains some jeopardy in the apprentice title race, with leader Ryan Kavanagh five wins ahead of Jack Callan.
