Smart Saturday Maiden Double For Mastercraftsman

Lilac Road (2f Mastercraftsman - Lavendar Lane, by Shamardal) produced a smart performance to win Saturday’s Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Doncaster.

Fifth over seven furlongs earlier in the month, Jon and Julia Aisbitt’s homebred stepped up to a mile on her latest start and was ridden to make all by Tom Marquand. Pushed along from two furlongs out, William Haggas’s charge kept on well to win by a length and a half from the favourite Senita; reversing the form of their debuts. Adding to the impressive nature of Lilac Road’s success was the margin of ten lengths between the second and third horses.

There should be more to come from Lilac Road over further trips, given that her dam was Group 2 placed over a mile and a half.

Later that afternoon at Tramore, the Jessica Harrington-trained Royal Free Hotel (3f Mastercraftsman - Marigold Hotel, by Galileo) raced 11 lengths clear of her rivals in the Fillies Maiden.

Conor Hoban rode her to chase the leaders, asking her to quicken from three furlongs out and led a furlong later. Striding out to the line, she won in comfortable fashion.

The Newtown Anner Stud homebred, who had been placed on her previous two starts, was purchased by BBA Ireland in utero for 330,000gns. She is the first foal out of Marigold Hotel (Galileo), a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and Stakes producer Simply Perfect.

Mastercraftsman commanded €25,000 at Castlehyde Stud in 2020.