Apostrophe pleases with Hastings triumph
“I had resigned myself to defeat,” admitted trainer Roger James as he watched jockey Warren Kennedy leg up aboard Apostrophe at Hastings last Saturday.
However, much to his pleasant surprise, he found himself greeting them at the winner’s stall.
While James was pleased with the mare’s condition heading into the race, the odds seemed stacked against them. Apostrophe had drawn the outside gate in the 12-horse field and was burdened with a hefty 60 kilograms.
As the race unfolded, Apostrophe settled at the rear of the field under Kennedy’s guidance.
Turning for home, they faced a formidable wall of horses in front of them. Kennedy made a crucial decision to stick to the inside, ultimately finding a gap between horses that allowed Apostrophe to accelerate and secure a narrow victory, just a long head ahead of Electric Time.
James couldn’t help but express his awe at his mare’s performance and the skill of his rider.
He remarked, “It was a great effort first-up. Originally, we were going to claim four off her back, and then the rider got hurt, and we had the option of putting Warren on with 60 kilos.
“When I legged him up, I said, ‘unfortunately I don’t think she can win.’ He steered her beautifully, saved ground, and all credit to the mare; it was a top effort.”
Kennedy shared in the amazement, stating, “It was a really fantastic win from her. Carrying 60 and drawn the widest, we got back, and she was sitting last.
“She just motored on through them; I couldn’t get the gaps quickly enough; she was running on so quickly. It was a really good win; that was outstanding.”
Apostrophe’s impressive performance adds to her track record, with five wins and three placements in her 13 starts.
The trainer has high hopes for the daughter of Tavistock, saying, “We have always thought that she was a black-type performer in the making.
“She has had a few niggles soundness-wise, but if we can keep her in one piece, I think we can have a lot of fun.”