Bring on Finals Day!
Sat 02 Mar 2024
WINNER 15 OF 2024: DEAR MY FRIEND, trained by Charlie Johnston and ridden by Billy Loughnane: The Class 2 'BetMGM AWC Mile Trial Handicap' over 1m at Lingfield.
Firstly, we send our very best wishes to Joe Fanning, who had a nasty fall in a race last week and is undergoing treatment. He has partnered Dear My Friend for his two previous, winning runs this year: A Class 2 at Newcastle and the Listed Tandridge Stakes, at Lingfield.
This was 'Trials Day' back at Lingfield and the talented Billy Loughnane, was in the saddle. Carrying a top weight of 9st 12lbs, this didn't deter the market, as he was 2/1 fav.
Drawn in the middle, he set off steadily and slotted in behind the leader without expending extra effort - his big stride taking him there. Still going easily as the leader came off the bridle, he took the lead over 2 furlongs from home. Ridden approaching the final furlong, he was soon 2 lengths clear and ran on well to win readily, by 2 and a 1/2 lengths.
"Dear My Friend is in a purple patch and wins again!" Watch the full race replay here: https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Lingfield/01-March-2024/1657
Timeform rated it as a career best and most impressive, p121+ performance, saying: "Continues to impress on all-weather, completing the hat-trick with a very smart display that marks him out as a pattern-class performer under these conditions; close up, led on bridle over 2f out, shaken up entering straight, in command soon after, eased final 50 yds; he's already proven at Newcastle and, though he'll probably be conceding weight all round, he will still be the one to beat in the Mile on Good Friday.”
There was no post race cover from Sky Sports Racing, but Billy did say to us after dismounting:
Syndicate manager Mike says: "A nice no nonsense ride from Billy and I am delighted for Charlie and his owners. Putting in yet another career best here and bringing up the hat-trick, he could pick up a £75,000 bonus if he wins on Finals Day. Yesterday took his career earnings from his 6 race wins, to over £150k too and he sits at the top of the AW Champs 'Mile' league table. Well done everyone!"
You can see the AW Champs leaderboards here: https://www.awchampionships.co.uk/leaderboards/championship-leaderboards/mile/ where Clarendon House also shows at the top for us, in the 'Sprint' division.