Touchdown!
Sat 16 Sep 2023
WINNER 84 OF 2023: RED ZONE HERO, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Ryan Moore: The 'Hippo Clean Edge Masking Tape Confined Nursery' over 6f, at the Doncaster St Leger Festival.
Drawn in 1 on the far side, he broke well and was immediately at the front, although they were pretty level across the track. Pressed for the lead after joining the main group at the 2 furlong marker, Ryan asked him to quicken and he surely did. He pulled clear inside the final furlong and stayed on well to win readliy by 4 and a 1/4 lengths, picking up a nice prize of just over £11,500.
"Red Zone Hero demolishes the field in the last!" Watch the full race replay here: https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Doncaster/15-September-2023/1720
Timeform rated it as a career best 94, saying: "Didn't get the rub of the green in a higher grade at the Ebor meeting (when behind Blue Prince), became the third winner from just 4 runners to have appeared from that strong contest, showing much improved form back under more testing conditions and with Moore aboard for the first time, loads to like in regard to how he went through it and how much he found for pressure, doing so in a very good time; disputed lead, went with enthusiasm, went on 2f out, edged left 1f out, stormed clear; will be extremely hard to beat if turned out again quickly under a penalty at Yarmouth next week, though this performance suggests that he may be ready for a higher grade, something like the listed Rockingham Stakes at York next month likely to suit his run style and he wouldn't need to progress much further to have a serious say.”
Ryan told us after the race: "He jumped good and has plenty of speed. He is very genuine and hopefully he can win some more for you!"
See the official photo gallery here: https://www.nigelkirbyphotography.com/Horse-Racing/Doncaster-Racecourse/Meetings-2023/Doncaster-Races-Fri-15-Sep-2023/Race-8-TBC/
Syndicate manager Tim says: "Congratulations to his owners - he certainly lived up to his name there and won in the style of a horse who is better than a handicapper. He is in at Yarmouth next Thursday, but we will look at options for him and see where we want to go next. Plenty to look forward to with the son of Starspangledbanner and to have another 2 year old winner at a Festival meeting this season is super!”
We have released a small amount of shares in him...you can see that here: http://www.middlehamparkracing.net/horses/view,red-zone-hero_1512.htm