SOME of the biggest stars of the weighing room will be in action at Redcar this week as the seaside track continues its busy start to the season.
Following two eight-race meetings in April to kick-off the 2017 season, Redcar has a competitive seven-race card on Thursday (May 4), starting at 2pm.
Former champion jockey Jamie Spencer is coming up for three rides and the man who rode the mighty Frankel, Tom Queally, makes a rare journey north for just one ride.
Queally is aboard Excellent Sunset in the second race for Newmarket trainer David Lanigan, although he’ll have tough opposition over six furlongs from fellow southern raiders – Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Classical Times and Robert Cowell’s Bella Alissa.
The pick of Jamie Spencer’s rides looks to be Gilgamesh, for yet another Newmarket handler, George Scott, in The racinguk.com Handicap Stakes at 4.30pm. The three-year-old gelding, owned by the Niarchos family, is on a roll, having already scored twice this season, both times at Wolverhampton.
Spencer also has a winning chance in the third race on Wonder of Dubai, another trained in Newmarket. Michael Bell’s charge looks to have Grinty, trained near Darlington by Michael Dods, to beat.
Redcar’s general manager Amy Fair said: “It’s been a really positive start to the season with good attendances and lots of runners. Thursday is another really good day with support from jockeys and trainers from the north and south.”
Redcar has another two Monday meetings in May – on May 22 and then the Racing UK Zetland Gold Cup premier meeting on May 29.