Class Prevails in Canterbury Trial

The opening barrier trial at Canterbury on Tuesday saw the Bjorn Baker-trained Samadoubt (Not A Single Doubt-Isadoora, by Gold Fever) continue his build up to a return to the track after a tendon injury, winning his second consecutive barrier trial. A winner of the Gr1 Winx Stakes (1400m) when last in work, the Darby Racing syndicated gelding has not been seen on race day since his fourth in the Gr3 Craven Plate behind Happy Clapper (Teofilo) in October 2019. Jumping straight to the lead in his usual racing pattern, jockey Tim Clark allowed the gelding to travel where comfortable on the rain affected track, before being asked for an effort as the field turned into the short Canterbury straight, pulling away for a five plus length win. Finishing in second was the Gr1 winner Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock-Eskimo Queen, by Shinko King) who was not knocked about at all by jockey Nash Rawiller, while Gr1 Doncaster Handicap winner Nettoyer (Sebring-Cleanup, by Dehere) was noted working home extremely well when it was all over, to finish just under six lengths from the winner. Successful from 1100m to 2000m, the Not A Single Doubt gelding is likely to kick off his Autumn preparation in the coming weeks and with nominations for the TJ Smith Stakes, Doncaster and Queen Elizabeth, all at Group 1 level, connections will be aiming to get the millionaire back to the elite level.

Samadoubt won his trial on Tuesday morning (pic: Steve Hart)