Stake Acclaim – 25/1 winner after 517 days off
STAKE ACCLAIM and FANTASTIC FLYER, off the track for a combined 731 days, both won yesterday to give the stable a fantastic 181/1 double.
The former was off the track for the whole of last year and indeed last ran at Doncaster at the last turf meeting in 2017. He returned yesterday as one of eight runners in the Class 2 Dubai Duty Free Handicap over 5f and was the rank outsider at 25/1.
Ridden by Adam Kirby for the first time in 29 starts, Stake Acclaim broke well, made all and always happy on the soft conditions which he likes, he quickened a furlong from home and was driven out to win by an impressive 2 3/4 lengths from Blue De Vega.
This was an impressive training performance from Dean to get the second top-weight ready after such a long absence. Adam Kirby was equally impressed and said that “I’m chuffed with Stake Acclaim and that was a good performance….He’s a very talented horse.”
The yard has always held the horse in high regard but unfortunately, he wasn’t right last year. Hopefully he’ll make up for that with more success this year for his patient owner, Michael Yarrow.
The double was completed in similarly comfortable fashion by Fantastic Flyer at Kempton in the first division of a Classified Stakes over seven furlongs. The four-year-old daughter of Harbour Watch was also returning after a long absence, comprising 214 days but this lightly-raced filly, sent off at 6/1, made short work of her absence. Held up by Martin Dwyer, she made good progress on the inner and went clear a furlong out to win easily by 3 1/4 lengths. Congratulions to owner Mrs K M Young, who also bred the filly at Gracelands Stud.
The stable really seems to be hitting form and has enjoyed a great week with three winners and is now on 11 for the season, five of which have come this month.
