Dark Angel leads field home in Middle Park

Newmarket Report: Dark Angel led the field at around the halfway point and kept up the gallop to gamely hold off all-comers in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.

Trained by Barry Hills and ridden by his son Michael, the 8 to 1 chance stole a length or so approaching the distance and was always just doing enough to see off Strike The Deal (9-1) by a half-length.

The always-prominent Tajdeef, also trained by Hills, was sent off at 9 to 2 and stayed on to fill third spot, a further neck away, but favourite Sir Gerry was never travelling strongly and finished well down the field.

Hills senior said: "He's a very good horse and has got a very high cruising speed. He's improved all season but I don't know if he'll run again this year. If he does, it'll be in the Dewhurst.

"I don't know whether he'll get a mile and I'd say sprinting will be his game next season."

The winning jockey said: "We went quick. This fellow has got a high cruising speed and I wasn't going to mess around."

Valdir de Souza finished seventh aboard Rock Of Rochelle and his misery of finishing down the field was compounded by a three-day ban (October 16th-18th) for using his whip with excessive frequency and when out of contention.

© 2007 The Irish Times

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