By the admission of connections, the Stayers Classic and Kent St.Leger third is far happier when she can dominate terms but she found herself having to battle her way past Keplar Nine when the defending champion burst clear from the boxes.
In what turned out to be a two runner buckle, Hayley Keightley’s joint favourite pursued Chris Akers runner for the first lap before she began to exert pressure on the leader. She finally hit the front coming off the last bend. Swift Maggie ran another sensational race after losing ground early, but never looked like catching the leader who finished just under two lengths clear in 41.74 on going rated (-45).
Reflecting on the kennel’s second Cat 1 in six days, assistant trainer Mark Keightley said: “We know she can be emphatic, but this was a clever victory. It almost looked as though she was waiting for the leader – who ran a great race by the way – to struggle in the later stages. When she did go past, she didn’t check and try to go on the inside, she just eased her way past.
“We don’t have any immediate plans. She will probably have a week or ten days break and then we have a couple of options open to us.”
ROXHOLME POPPY wins the Yorkshire St Leger from Slippy Maggie (t2) and early leader Keplar Nine (t5).
Doncaster 8th October 2018
Photo: © Steve Nash
