It was a shock result in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown Park on Tuesday night, as outsider Captain Winters produced a brave performance to win by a nose.
It was a shock result in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown Park on Tuesday night, as outsider Captain Winters produced a brave performance to win by a nose.
A well-beaten fourth on seasonal reappearance at Musselburgh behind the re-opposing Finn's Charm, Captain Winters showed remarkable improvement to take the Listed contest. He sat behind the pace-setting Grey's Monument before taking the lead with two furlongs to go and hanging on for the win. Grey's Monument rallied for second with short-priced favourite Slipofthepen a further three-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.
It was a disappointing effort from the King's runner Slipofthepen, who had been marked as a possible future Group 1 performer over a mile. John Gosden cited the ground as a likely reason in a post-race interview, saying, "He just found the ground a little tacky. He is a horse that loves top of the ground. He just laboured in the ground and he didn't have his usual zip. But you are coming from the all-weather to his first race on turf which is a big difference.
"It is a good stiff track Sandown and he didn't float off the ground. He was a little bit keen, but I'm not blaming that. The ground was just a little bit tacky for him.
"We will see how he is when he gets home then make plans."
Connections of Captain Winters were delighted with the performance and trainer Kevin Ryan identified potential reasons for his improvement.
"Off his rating he did have a bit of work to do, but we thought a lot of him last year. He is from a family that generally improves with age. You could put a line through his run last time at Musselburgh as I just thought the track didn't suit him.
"I think he is a horse that just saves a bit for himself, but if you think you have a good horse it is worth pitching them in to good races. I don't go into races like this to make up the numbers. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong.
"We will have a chat with Sheikh [Mohammed] Obaid [Al Maktoum] over the next few days and see what to do.
"There could be options to go over to France with him, while we will also see what options there are at home. It is nice to have opportunities to make such plans."
