Touchdown!
Fri 27 Aug 2021
WINNER 70 OF 2021: THE VEGAS RAIDER, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by William Buick: 'The John Lewis Shopping Village Handicap' over 1m 6f at Chelmsford.
Drawn on the outer, he was held up in behind the leaders, staying on the outer of the field. Given a shake up as they came around the home bend, William asked him to quicken and coming into the straight, he really hit top gear and made good headway. Pulling away, he went clear coming to the line and was ridden out, to win by 21/2 lengths. A 2nd career win and a double for Michael on the card - now we know why he was in attendance!
"He's stuck on really nicely in the colours of Middleham Park Racing and he's going to get further." Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/videos/watch/horse_racing_replays/351428-john-lewis-shopping-village-handicap-5
Timeform rated it as career best p76 saying: "Showed improved form to resume winning ways in good style, looking better the further he went and there's more to come over staying trips with him; mid-field, pushed along 4f out, headway 2f out, led 1f out, kept going well; likely to stay 2m; may do better still.”
William said in his Racing TV interview: "I rode him over 10f at Lingfield, but this is much more his trip. He responds well to pressure and stays really well. It was a typical slow pace race and every time I asked him, he found more for me.”
(No, we haven't suddenly changed his name....)
See the official photo gallery here: https://meganrosephotography.photoshelter.com/gallery/Race-5-The-Vegas-Raider/G0000qilnBxYkMSs/C00003TYNzG0guII
Syndicate manager Tim says: "Congratulations to his owners, so very much deserved after losing out in a photo finish last time out at the track! That was an authoritative victory, as he asserted with his staying power in the home straight. We have a 2m race in mind for him back at Chelmsford next Thursday, which I have discussed with his syndicate this morning as part of the race review. Michael's horses are in good form, winning the opening contest and then with BOOKMARK, our recent acquisition, running a nice race to take 2nd by a neck in race 2. Super that The Vegas Raider was our 70th winner of the year, which means we are ahead on number of winners at this point against the last 5 years.”