Alfred Burns Up the AW
Fri 24 Nov 2023
WINNER 106 OF 2023: ALFRED, trained by George Boughey and ridden by Billy Loughnane: The 'Stay Golden With BetMGM Safer Gambling Nursery' over 1m 1.5f at Wolverhampton.
A winner on his stable debut 4 days ago, he lined up here under the 6lb penalty, over a slightly longer trip; the market marked him as favourite.
Drawn centrally, he got a bump and ended up in rear after the start. The pace up front was pretty quick, so Billy held on to him and kept this position. Coming to the home bend, he could be seen making smooth headway on the outer and approaching the straight, he was ridden to challenge. Swooping past the leaders to take the lead over 1f out, he went clear in the final furlong, to win comfortably by 2 and a 1/2 lengths.
Watch the full race replay here: https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Wolverhampton/23-November-2023/1630
Timeform rated it as a career best t86+ performance, saying: "Had made a winning start for this yard at Newcastle 4 days prior and upped further in trip, followed up with any amount in hand under a penalty; held up, smooth progress out wide over 2f out, produced to lead over 1f out, went clear soon after, in control when edged left inside final 1f, won easily; he looks most progressive all of a sudden and is likely to take plenty of stopping in his hat-trick bid."
George was there and said in his Sky Sports Racing interview with Jason Weaver: "He was good. Billy was worried he was a bit too far back, but when we bought him we thought he would stay and that's what he has shown here today. He's entitled to go on improving."
See the official photographs, here: https://www.jahphoto.co.uk/-/galleries/wolverhampton-horse-racing-2023/november-2023/23rd-november-2023/race-1
Syndicate manager Mike says: "Well - nicely bought at the sales I would say, as he heads up the ratings! Many congratulations to his owners once again, he really travelled past the field in style there to defy the penalty. I like what Timeform say and we'd like to think he can go on again from this. Five winners from our last 9 runners isn't bad too!"
Shares are available here: https://www.middlehamparkracing.net/horses/view,alfred_1544.htm