Friends Reunited
Mon 05 Feb 2024
WINNER 8 OF 2024: DEAR MY FRIEND, trained by Charlie Johnston and ridden by Joe Fanning: The feature LISTED 'BetMGM Tandridge Stakes' over 1m at Lingfield.
The duo made a winning start to the year when taking the Class 2 at Newcastle - putting in a career best RPR of 109. Here they lined up in the feature Listed Tandridge Stakes, over the same 1m trip.
He wasn't the quickest from the stalls, but without making too much effort, soon found himself at the head of the field. Coming to the bend he was still travelling nicely as others in behind tried to close him down, but he came clear and ran on strongly to win, unchallenged by 1 and 3/4 lengths.
Watch the full race replay here: https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Lingfield/04-February-2024/1437
Timeform rated it as a career best p115+ performance, saying: "Confirmed himself one of the top performers on the all-weather circuit as he followed up from last time in impressive fashion, having no problem with this much sharper track; led, travelled smoothly, shaken up early in straight, kept on well, won readily; will continue to take all the beating.”
Joe said in his Sky Sports Racing interview: "He can be a little keen, so I was going to take a lead, but I couldn't see any pace in the race so I thought if he settled in front I would let him bowl along. There was a fair head wind, so that was a good performance and he loved it."
Read the Racing Post story from the meeting, here: https://www.racingpost.com/news/reports/the-wheels-are-firmly-back-on-fast-improving-dear-my-friend-lands-listed-event-for-middleham-park-ab23M2W2URFR/
Syndicate manager Mike says: "A great well judged ride from the front by Joe and he has proven that he can be ridden off the pace and from the front. He's won over £50,000 from these two back to back wins so I am delighted for his owners. Putting in a career best here, he's in The Lincoln of course, but Charlie and I will plot his next move and see if he can make it a hat-trick!"