Progressive filly Lower Street delivered a power-packed finish to take the inaugural £100,000 Coral Winter Oaks Fillies’ Handicap at Lingfield Park this afternoon, day two of the Winter Million.
The David Simcock-trained four-year-old was making a quick reappearance in the 10-furlong contest following a comfortable victory in a Southwell handicap six days ago, for which she carried a 5lb penalty.
Positioned in last of the 14 runners by Martin Dwyer, Lower Street made the most of a relatively trouble-free passage in the straight to scythe through the field and hit the front inside the final furlong. The winning distance was a length, with Enfranchise also finishing strongly to take second and Pretty Sweet third.
Simcock said of the 10/1 winner: “As soon as we saw this race, that is why we went to Southwell to get up in the weights to make sure she definitely got in.
“They have gone hard there – really hard – and that is the first time she has had that in a race. She was almost outpaced early doors and the Johnston horse who finished second was next to her, so they have probably gone too quick in front.
“Since the autumn, Lower Street has really progressed. She was far worse off at the weights with some of those horses from the trial at Southwell two starts back and this shows how much she has come forward.
“She is from an old Ballymacoll Stud family that generally improves with age and is doing everything right now. She is by Kingman and has that little bit of spark to her, although a mile and a half is probably her trip on a more conventional track.
“The plan before today was to have a break and then come back for fast ground in the summer. Whether that changes I don’t know, but the likelihood is that she will have a break.”
He added: “This is a great prize and the whole thing [Winter Million] is a really good concept. I wasn’t here yesterday but the crowd today is good with a real friendly atmosphere.”
Dwyer said: “It is quite dramatic the way Lower Street races. She likes to be left alone early and we had a nice pace to run at. She has improved race by race and the trainer has done well, hasn’t he?
“I thought there would be plenty of pace in the race, which I knew would help. When you are riding for a trainer and owners that let you go out and do what she likes to do and understand that when it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, it allows you to ride with confidence.
“She has a tremendous turn of foot and she showed it to great effect there. She has done nothing but improve and it is a great thrill to come from last to first like that.”
Elsewhere on the card, Celtic Art was a rare winner on the Flat for trainer Jeremy Scott in the £50,000 Betway Handicap over 12 furlongs.
Purchased out of Paul & Oliver Cole’s stable in early December, Celtic Art went off the 10/3 favourite after finishing second on debut for Scott in a course and distance handicap on December 31.
Scott said: “After he was second here first time out for us, I thought this race would be a nice target. It is so rare that a plan comes together but thankfully it has.
“I asked Hollie what she would do next. She said he is clearly enjoying the game, so we will have a look at the programme book and see if there is anything suitable in the near future.
“He is the type of horse who will go hurdling at some point but it’s a bit too late in Jump season for that now.”
