It was a big-race double at Newbury on Saturday with Yafta winning the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes and Ginger Nut landing the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint.
Yafta, owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, has been a very consistent horse throughout his career, having never finished out of the first four. He ran a very gallant second last time out in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes, so it was great to see him gain his first blacktype victory back in Group 3 company. "I thought next year would be his year. I also felt seven furlongs would be his trip. Richard Hills said this would be the race for him. I thought it was a very hot race, but he got it right."
The Weatherbys Super Sprint was next on the racecard, where Ginger Nut managed to gain our ninth success in the race. Owned by Mrs Powell and purchased by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock for only £23,000, the daughter of Sir Prancealot made headway two furlongs out and quickened nicely to take the lead entering the final half-furlong. "This was the plan from the moment we bought her. She didn't have an owner, so Chris and Jenny came in and I said that she would be an ideal filly for the Weatherbys Super Sprint”