3 minute read

William Haggas' Al Aasy put his best foot forward when bouncing back to form for a comfortable success in the bet365 Stakes at Newbury on Saturday afternoon.

The Shadwell-owned gelding finished a tailed-off last of five in the Listed Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket on his reappearance but left that effort well behind when running out a ready winner at Newbury.

PJ McDonald and Phantom Flight seized the early initiative and much of the order remained unchanged, with market leader Highland Avenue (7/4 F) anchored towards the rear of the field following a change in tactics.

The pace began to quicken approaching the two-furlong marker and Phantom Flight soon had a number of his rivals in trouble. William Buick switched Highland Avenue towards the near side rail, but the striking grey never really looked like landing a blow and the eye was always drawn to the strong-travelling Al Aasy, who began to weave between rivals under confident-looking Jim Crowley.

Al Aasy loomed upsides Phantom Flight entering the final furlong and soon quickened on by for a snug one-and-a-half length success.

Speaking with ITV Racing Jim Crowley said: "It's great to get him back on track and look he's a talented horse."

"He's been called a few names in the past, but I think we've all been called a few names in the past!"

"Listen he's a very good horse and he loves following and he loves travelling. I actually think coming back to a mile and a quarter was a big help for him as well. He's got plenty of boot early on and sometimes they don't quite go quick enough for him early on."

"He's a lovely stamp of a horse and it's nice to have him back."

William Haggas, who won the race last year with Grosser Jack, added: "He's been a battle. I was not keen to go a mile and a quarter and got talked out of it and thank god."

"It appears now age six, that it was a good trip for him."

"It is probably that they go a little bit faster, and they help him to relax, and he did it well, did it comfortably – but he should have done on the ratings.

"He will go for the Rose of Lancaster at Haydock on August 12th. It has been a battle with him, both mentally and physically. Everything. Mentally he is not straightforward. He has had a couple of injuries, but he's coming. He doesn't look right in his skin still, but he's coming."

Favourites had landed the last seven renewals of this Listed prize until this afternoon, and many would have expected Al Aasy to go off the market leader having opened up as short as 4/6 with a majority of firms yesterday evening. However, a continued market drift saw Al Aasy return a staggering 100/30.