Peter Moore at Salisbury 5th October 2023
Trainer Ralph Beckett continued in his quest to reach over 130 winners with a double in their final meeting of the season on Thursday.
Victories for La Pasionaria and Palmar Bay made it 116 wins so far for the Hampshire trainer, who wasn’t present as he was at the sales at Newmarket.
“It’s been years in the making,” his wife Izzi said. “It’s all coming together, but we’ve had great support from our owners who send us all these lovely horses – long may it last.”
La Pasionaria making her debut in division one of the mile novice was ridden by Rossa Ryan. The stable enjoyed success in this same race 12 months later thanks to If Not Now and Bluestocking who won the corresponding divisions of the race.
Beckett went on to add, “Rossa was very positive and loved her attitude. He said she liked the soft ground and was a bit green, but did it professionally in the end. She’s very exciting for next year.”
The other winner of the Beckett double was Palmar Bay, ridden by Hector Couch in the 6f condition contest. Bay’s victory meant that Beckett has had nine winners at the track this year, making him the leading trainer at the course for the year.
The prize for the leading trainer at the track for the year is £500, which the Beckett’s very kindly donated to the Over The Wall charity, which helps children with serious illnesses and disabilities.
Other highlights of the meeting saw Under The Twilight make it three from three at Salisbury. The five year old is trained by local trainer Michael Blake. The Trowbridge trainer said after the win “She went up 12lb when she won here in June and we thought that might be the end of her, but she’s been second and now won.”