Sport : Horse Racing

Walk in the park for Middleham

4th July 2012, 05:38pm

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David O'Meara: Looking for black type for Our Diane

David O'Meara: Looking for black type for Our Diane

Owners Middleham Park Racing are enjoying a good season and had two nice juvenile winners at Catterick on Wednesday.

The syndicate had their first two Group winners earlier this season, with Esentepe in the Nell Gwyn and Penitent in the bet365 Mile, and are on course to better their previous best total of 67 victories in 2010.

Several trainers are on Middleham's roster, but they have reaped immediate rewards with Nawton handler David O'Meara, whose Our Diane (15-2) backed up her debut promise with a smooth victory in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

She ran well for a long way in the Hilary Needler at Beverley before disappointing at Chester, where there were excuses.

And when Danny Tudhope decided to make full use of her draw in stall 12 by coming up the near side rail at Catterick, the result was never in much doubt.

To top it off, Red Highlites, also owned by Middleham Park, finished second.

"Running her in the Needler was a shot to nothing," said O'Meara.

"She'd shown speed at home and if she'd got black type on her debut it would have been job done - we didn't expect her to win.

"At Chester she was poorly drawn. The aim will be to try to get some black type - she's very speedy."

While Our Diane went up the near-side rail, Middleham Park's Strange Magic (4-1) went up the far side in the Yorkshire-Outdoors.co.uk Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Tony Hamilton soon recovered a slow start as the Richard Fahey-trained filly looked in a different league to her rivals.

Red Cobra, the only other runner to stay on the far side second, finished three lengths away.

Middleham Park racing manager Tim Palin said: "She was the most expensive Diamond Green (sire) at the sales.

"We only gave three ticks to three horses at the sales, the other two were out of our price range and she was the third.

"Ross Doyle (bloodstock agent) picked her out for us and said she could be a black-type filly.

"Tony stayed that side to make use of the draw near the rail."

Former Ballydoyle inmate Tinseltown (2-1 favourite) notched a first win on the level in the first division of the August 17th Is Ladies' Evening Handicap.

Twice victorious at Wetherby recently, Brian Rothwell's six-year-old took advantage of a lowly mark of 46 under Joe Fanning.

Making nearly all of the running, there was only one horse in it from some way out.

"We might go back over hurdles with him, there's a race at Southwell a week on Sunday I've got my eye on," said Rothwell.

Mohawk Ridge reserves his best for Catterick and justified 6-4 favouritism with a two-and-a-half-length success in the Racing Again Next Wednesday Handicap for Michael Dods and Lee Topliss.

"He loves it here," said Dods.

"He pulled too hard at Thirsk but you can get away with it here - they freewheel down the hill and you can get away from them off the bend."

Incitement fell turning into the straight and while Tudhope walked away unharmed, the horse had to be put down.

Dr Red Eye (7-2) is likely to be hammered by the handicapper after a six-length win in the Follow Us On Twitter @catterickraces Handicap.

"He won a little too well and I don't have him in anywhere else to get him out quickly," said trainer Scott Dixon.

"We thought he'd got further this year but he's not been getting home so we worked him with a sprinter and he showed plenty of speed.

"He's getting faster with age."

John Quinn's Dora's Sister broker her duck at the seventh attempt in the Go Racing In Yorkshire Classified Stakes.

The even-money favourite travelled sweetly for Michael O'Connell but was made to work fairly hard by Eastlands Lad, eventually scoring by a neck.

Operateur (6-1) won the second division of the 12-furlong handicap for Ben Haslam and Phillip Makin.

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