Back in March 2021 Vintage Clarets became the first runner for his sire Ardad when fourth in the Brocklesby and was then his second winner on 14 April. He swiftly backed up his maiden success with another win 12 days later and, now four, he’s still going strong. Vintage Clarets has added another three victories to his tab this season, after also winning at three, to make it six victories from his 28 starts, along with five placings. His latest win came at York on Saturday in a £50,000 handicap.
Being out of a Royal Applause mare, it was always likely that Vintage Clarets would be a proper sprinter, and so it has transpired, with all of his victories coming over five furlongs. He was also placed in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot over six furlongs, the year in which his stable-mate at Richard Fahey’s and fellow Ardad colt Perfect Power won the G2 Norfolk Stakes.
Cityscape’s three-year-old son City Of York really should have joined Vintage Clarets on the Knavesmire, but he chose Newbury to post his third consecutive victory, making light work of the heavy ground to win easily for his owner-breeder Alan Pickering. The David Simcock-trained gelding has also won at Kempton and Lingfield this season, with his latest success coming off a mark of 75.
The National Hunt season has begun in style for Jack Hobbs with bumper winners recently in both Britain and Ireland. Stungbythemaster won on debut at Worcester for Fergal O’Brien and owner-breeder J Greenley, while Intense Approach claimed his second bumper victory of the summer when scoring at Listowel on Saturday. The four-year-old, who was bred by Swanbridge Bloodstock, has also won and placed in his two point-to-point starts.
Not to be left out, Schiaparelli was represented by a winner on the Flat at Redcar last week when Merrijig went one better than his recent runner-up finish at Carlisle. Now five, he has also been placed in three bumpers, including when being beaten a neck on debut last July.
