Friday 29 May 2015 18:47, UK
A review of Friday's action at Newmarket as William Buick secured a treble including a win for Space Age.
William Buick was once again the man to follow at Newmarket after securing a treble at the track, highlighted by the victory of Royal Ascot-bound Space Age.
Having ridden a four-timer during the last meeting at the course, the 26-year-old had to be at his strongest to get home the Charlie Appleby-trained Space Age in the Codebase8 Ltd Handicap in the middle leg of his haul.
After suffering trouble in running when finishing fifth at Newbury on his reappearance, Buick ensured there was to be no hard-luck story this time, sending him straight to the front in the mile-and-a-quarter contest.
Seeing off top weight Genres, the 2-1 shot then found extra to repel the late charge of Suffused by a neck to complete a double for the winning trainer.
Appleby said: "We will possibly tilt him at the King George V Handicap at Ascot now.
"The step up in trip suited him and he saw it out well and stuck to his guns nicely.
"We were pleased with his first run, and although I am not saying he would have beat the winner, he would have got closer with a better passage through.
"He is a horse that is a work in progress and is far from the unfinished article."
Blossomtime ensured Buick and Appleby's day got off to a winning start when making the most of her experience to hand Godolphin a third straight success in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
Bounced straight out into the lead, the 8-13 favourite built upon her debut second over course and distance earlier this month when holding the strong-finishing Jet Setting by a short head.
Appleby said: "William (Buick) was pleased with the way she quickened between the two- and the one-pole.
"She just laboured a little bit out in front and the ground was probably quick enough out there for her.
"We have not made our mind up with our two-year-old team yet for Ascot and we will see how she comes out of it.
"I am not saying she won't go there (Ascot), but if she does the Albany will be the race for her."
The Ralph Beckett-trained Air Squadron (6-4) completed Buick's treble with a hard-fought victory in the Racing UK Day Pass Just #10 Handicap.
Although still having a long way to go to match the exploits of his half-brother, Air Pilot, the five-year-old made it two wins in succession when outbattling his rivals for a three-quarters-of-a-length win.
Horseshoe Bay relished every yard of the step in trip to open his account in the Devils Dyke Maiden Stakes.
Tracking market rival Libbard for much of the mile-and-a-half encounter, the 5-4 favourite moved past the early leader inside the final three furlongs.
Once in control, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt galloped on relentlessly to score by seven lengths and complete a double for winning rider Ryan Moore.
Coral Pritchard-Gordon, partner of Stoute, said: "Michael said that he is a progressive sort who is a long-striding horse.
"He will learn a lot from that experience and looks like he will get further, but Ryan said a mile and a half is his trip at the moment."
Moore initiated his brace aboard soon-to-be mum Leaderene in the Home Of Racing Fillies' Handicap.
Despite giving weight to all of her rivals, the Mark Johnston-trained four-year-old, who is in foal to Leroidesanimaux, powered clear of her rivals from the front to take the mile-and-a-quarter affair by a pushed-out six lengths.
Deirdre Johnston, wife of the winning trainer, said: "I said to Ryan (Moore) that she has won over a mile and a half so she will stay the trip.
"It was smashing to see her win as she is a real genuine filly who will now only be racing a short time more as she is in foal."
Firmdecisions could be another winner bound for Royal Ascot after making it back-to-back wins at the track in the Tilbrooks Landscape & Tuddenham Nurseries Handicap.
Making all the running, the 100-30 favourite had enough in hand to hold off the staying-on Russian Realm by an ever-diminishing half a length.
Ivory said: "He had to do it the hard way, out in front.
"I like to have a plan for all my horses and this has been his plan since his last win here.
"I thought he might be second as he was up against a couple of good rivals.
"He is in the Wokingham and we will have a look at that now."
Robin Park (7-2) is fast reaping the rewards of his switch to trainer Richard Fahey after he followed up his win at Nottingham a week and a half ago when coming with a late run for an easy success in the concluding EBF Stallions Breeding Winners Fillies' Handicap.
