Fantastic Festival Double
Sun 24 Sep 2023
WINNER 89 OF 2023: REVICH, trained by Richard Spencer and ridden by Hollie Doyle: The Class 2 'Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap' over 1m at the Ayr Gold Cup Festival.
Winner of this race in 2021 and placed 3rd last year, Revich has been a fantastic Saturday and Festival performer for his owners throughout his career. Partnered with Hollie Doyle again, he was drawn on the outer in 9 this year.
He broke well, but couldn't manage to slot in and so was steadied into the rear. Coming into the home straight, he started to make up ground at the 3f marker and continued to make headway on the outside. From 2f out he was looming up and took the lead entering the final furlong. Facing a challenge, he held on in determined style, winning by a short head.
A fantastic 7th career win and he got plenty of pats in the winners enclosure from his owners and guests too.
"It's Revich from last place on the outside and wins the race again!" Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/465804-ayr/23-Sep-2023/1315
Timeform rated it as a fantastic career best equalling 106 performance, with their comments: "Goodwood aside, has been shaping up well of late and doubled his tally for the year in battling fashion; patiently ridden, kept on well from 2f out, edged ahead final 100 yds; won't go up much for this and should remain competitive."
Hollie was interviewed after the race:
See the official photographs, here: https://www.grossick.co.uk/p/80532khg/C385618554/x1-revich
Syndicate manager Tim says: "Revich is a credit to Richard Spencer and his team and that was a well judged ride by Hollie. I'm delighted for his owners - yet again, as he has given them so many fantastic days at the races and winning his fair share for them. I must say that he looked very proud in his winners rug during the ITV Racing coverage. ”
WINNER 90 OF 2023: COLD STARE, trained by David O'Meara and ridden by Ben Curtis: 'The Get Home Safe with Thistle Cabs Handicap' over 7f at the Ayr Gold Cup Festival.
He ran a stormer on Friday to take 2nd in the Bronze Cup, beaten by a stable companion, with the two of them pulling 4 lengths away from the rest of the field. Having stayed up at the racecourse and being passed by the veterinary team to line up on Saturday, the market placed him at the top of the betting.
Slowly into stride, Ben held him up in rear and much like Revich did, he made headway on the outer at 3f from home, in the straight. Staying on well inside the final furlong, he battled on well to take the lead towards the finish, winning by 1/2 a length.
"2nd yesterday in the Bronze Cup, 1st this afternoon - Cold Stare wins!" Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/465809-ayr/23-Sep-2023/1645
Timeform rated it as an 85 performance, saying: "Had showcased his wellbeing when second in the Bronze Cup the day before and only needed to match that form to get off the mark for the season, slowly into stride, raced well off the pace, headway out wide from 3f out, chased leaders 1f out, led close home.”
Ben said in his Racing TV interview: "Fair play to the horse, he deserved that after yesterday. We went a decent gallop and he stuck it out and battled on gamely. He obviously had a good constitution and the ability so well done to the team.”
See the official photographs, here: https://www.grossick.co.uk/p/80532khg/C385618560/x7-cold-stare
Syndicate manager Mike says: "Well that was emotional. He has been knocking on the door this season running well in defeat and after his 2nd place yesterday, what a horse to come here and take this race the day after! He is very ground dependant and so we often have to wait for the right conditions for him to shine but to perform like that at this Festival has delighted his owners and so very well done to them. That's 8 career wins and he is a credit to David and his team.
This has been a tremendous meeting for us having 2 winners in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, a Listed winner last year and a best ever treble this year. The icing on the cake is that Cold Stare took us past £2 million in prize money for the year so far - earlier than last year and with fewer runners!