Fighting Temeraire – win number 499 for yard
FIGHTING TEMERAIRE won again last night and his victory at Chelmsford brought Harper Lodge Farm another step closer to 500 career wins for Dean Ivory since he took out a licence in 2002.
Sent off the 3/1 second favourite, the 7yo son of Invincible Spirit was one of just six runners in the seven furlong handicap. Despite the small field, it was an open contest but he ran out a comfortable one and a half length winner under Adam Kirby from the favourite, Full Intention.
Always travelling well, the previous five-times winner was held up by Adam but always in contention and switched right a furlong from home, he took it up inside the distance and won cosily, staying on well under hands and heels.
Yesterday, the gelding was winning off a mark of 75, just a pound higher than for his course and distance win last December but still considerably lower than his previous highest winning mark of 89 back in 2016. Clearly, he loves the 7f trip as this was the fifth time he has won over the distance. He’ll go up for this win but he hardly had a race yesterday and the son of Invincible Spirit could have more to offer.
Fighting Temeraire is one of the more historical and artistically-named horses in the yard as it shares its name with one of Lord Nelson’s gunships in the Battle of Trafalgar and an oil painting of the ship by the 19th century artist, J M W Turner. Although a 7yo, he does not have too many “nautical” miles on the clock. Yesterday’s victory was in his 31st race, so it’s not inconceivable he could climb back towards previous former glories.
The yard is now on 499 wins. As for when the yard hits 500, who knows? In the words of a David Pipe 10yo grey and six-times winner, the Champers On Ice!
