Tom Dascombe is hoping Misty Grey can give the yard a poignant success in the Listed Betway Kachy Stakes (1.11pm, nine runners) at Lingfield Park on Saturday, February 6, the first of two Fast-Track Qualifiers on the card.
Formerly known as Betway Cleves Stakes, the six-furlong prize has been renamed in memory of Kachy, a hugely popular flag bearer for the Dascombe stable who landed successive editions of this race as well as the 2019 Betway All-Weather Sprint Championship.
Misty Grey (Richard Kingscote) has yet to taste defeat since transferring from Mark Johnston in the autumn, with all three of his wins coming in handicaps at Wolverhampton, most recently in a seven-furlong class two event on December 26. He is the 2/1 favourite with Betway.
Kachy’s enthusiastic owner Dave Lowe also has an in-form contender in Fizzy Feet (David Loughnane/Rossa Ryan), who posted a career-best when successful over the course and distance last month.
Dascombe said: “This is obviously a race we would dearly love to win. Kachy was a real star for us and it was very considerate from everybody involved to think of doing something like this because I know how much it means to his owners.
“They have a real chance in the race with Fizzy Feet and both of us are trying our best to win it. If our horse doesn’t win, I sincerely hope they do.”
Regarding Misty Grey’s return to form, Dascombe added: “To put it simply, when you are sent a horse, particularly from a top trainer like Mr Johnston, your expectations are pretty low.
“I don’t think we have improved the horse; I just think we have given him a change of scenery and a different outlook, which seems to have brightened him up.
“If I am honest, I am slightly concerned about six furlongs around this track. I think it is very likely that six furlongs on a sharp track like this will not play to all of his strengths, but at the same time this looks an obvious race to go for.
“I do seem to remember that he was placed behind Pinatubo in the Woodcote at Epsom, not beaten far, and Epsom and Lingfield aren’t too dissimilar in that they are left-handed tracks with a downhill section.
“It is not going to be foreign to him, but if the race was run at Wolverhampton, I would be slightly more confident.”
Stewards’ Cup victor Summerghand (David O’Meara/Adam Kirby) has fitness to prove after a 119-day break. The seven-year-old has not raced on the All-Weather since landing a six-furlong conditions race at Wolverhampton in December 2019.
Fitness is no such concern for Aberama Gold (Keith Dalgleish/Shane Gray) who was in fine form in the final months of 2020, winning class two handicaps at Doncaster, Chelmsford City and Lingfield Park.
Connections of Mums Tipple (Richard Hannon/Ryan Moore) are hoping a gelding operation can have the desired effect. Mums Tipple created a huge impression when winning a sales race at York by 11 lengths in August 2019 but was most disappointing in four starts on turf last year.
All-Weather stalwart Royal Birth (Stuart Williams/Jason Hart) is a five-time winner at Lingfield Park, although none of those wins have come over further than five furlongs.
2019 Betway Golden Rose Stakes second Tinto (Amanda Perrett/Joe Fanning), Exalted Angel (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee) and Burmese Waltz (Archie Watson/Kierna Shoemark) also line up.
The Betway Kachy Stakes is a Fast-Track Qualifier for the Betway All-Weather Sprint Championship at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, April 2.
Betway PR Manager, Chad Yeomans, commented: “There were only four defections at the final declaration stage and we are left with a strong field of nine for the Betway Kachy Stakes.
“Both Misty Grey and Fizzy Feet – who have connections with Kachy - have been supported at the top of the market since we opened the betting on Monday.”
Betway Kachy Stakes - Betway odds: 2/1 Misty Grey; 4/1 Fizzy Feet; 6/1 Aberama Gold; 8/1 Exhalted Angel; 10/1 Summerghand; 12/1 Mums Tipple, Tinto; 14/1 Burmese Waltz; 16/1 Royal Birth
Menu
