By Peter Moore at Ascot Saturday 5th October 2024
Al Qareem made it back to back wins in the Group 3 BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes under Clifford Lee for Northern trainer Karl Burke on BetMGM Autumn Saturday Raceday at the Berkshire track.
The five-year-old led all the way in another impressive display from the gelding who has been a good servant for owners Nick Bradley Racing Syndicate.
Once he had led from the gate his seven rivals never came close to catching him to give Burke another major prize to add to his notable season.
Jockey Lee said after the race “Going into the first bend he was half taking me on, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in him and the petrol gauge never really fades. He just keeps galloping.
“He tries so hard and you know he’s going to give you 150 per cent. Even on the wrong ground he finishes on the backsides of the leaders, but he loves it when the going gets soft.”
Upper Lambourn trainer Jonathan Portman set a new personal best for prize money earned in a season thanks to four-year-old Rumstar’s impressive victory in the BetMGM Roust Stakes by two lengths over Beautiful Diamond.
“I’m just delighted I’ve found a race for him to win because it’s been a long time since the Cornwallis,” said Portman. “He’s not been the luckiest and I was concerned about the ground but that was obviously a load of rubbish!
“I’m chuffed for the horse and chuffed for his owner Vincent Ward, who is sitting at home not very well.”
Reflecting on a career-best season, Portman added: “At the beginning of the season I thought the older horses were all badly handicapped and over the hill but it’s the older horses who have all won two or three races each and been fantastic to me. I mustn’t grumble but we always want more and anyone is welcome.”
Jockey Shane Gray celebrated his first ever winning ride at Ascot after steering Volterra to victory in the Class 2 BetMGM Challenge Cup over 7f.
On the front foot from the start, the pair were never headed with Gray easing the three-year-old close home to win by three and a quarter lengths from Qirat.
“I couldn’t believe going into the two how well he was going,” said the winning rider. “I didn’t want to get caught napping so I gave him a squeeze and he didn’t half pick up. He’s getting stronger and I definitely think he’s a black-type horse going forward.
“I can’t thank [owner] Sheikh Mohammed Obaid enough for putting me on. Ascot is the premiership of racing and it’s lovely to get a winner here.”
Beaten by a nose in the Portland at Doncaster last time out, Apollo One went one better under in form jockey Daniel Tudhope to get the better of Jarraaf by a length.
Tudhope, who rode a four timer at Newcastle just two days ago bought up his 12th winner in the past 14 days to make it 74 winners for the season so far.