Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, Sharja Bridge cantered his way through the mile maiden to record a facile four-length success, building on the promise of his debut third at Haydock in a race that has produced two subsequent, progressive winners.
Andrea Atzeni barely had to move a muscle on the son of Oasis Dream, who tracked the leaders from his inside draw in stall two before sauntering clear inside the final quarter mile, taking care of the twice-raced Rising and the 83-rated Dawaaleeb in a useful time.
Roger said: “Sharja Bridge found the ground too holding at Pontefract, but he shaped with great promise on debut at Haydock and he was entitled to win as he did on that form. He is a lovely horse with a good attitude and he will make a fine four-year-old. He is an exciting prospect.”
Later in the afternoon, Great Court secured a smooth-travelling success in the 1m2f fillies’ maiden at Wolverhampton under Jack Mitchell.
Owned by Mr J Shack and Mr G Barnard, the daughter of Mastercraftman shaped with promise on her first start for us at Sandown and she showed the benefit of that experience to account for the William Haggas-trained Pretty Passe by a length and a quarter.
Roger said: “Great Court is a nice filly with a good mind and she did this very comfortably. It was important to get this first win into her, but I think she will be capable of holding her own switched to handicaps.”