Saffie and Jamie Osborne enjoyed another fine afternoon at Ascot, as Hickory showed a smart turn of foot to get up and land the feature Ascot Hospitality Handicap.
Andrew Balding’s Spanish Voice pulled them along from the front and they began to queue up in behind as the race began to take shape.
Moonfall was the first to show his hand, hitting the front a furlong and a half out but when finally given a clear run heading into the final half furlong, 15-2 chance Hickory turned on the jets and scooted between horses to secure a fourth course victory by three-quarters of a length.
Jamie Osborne told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s the only place he can produce here isn’t it? I think the pace of the race, the undulations and if they go a nice enough gallop they will come back to you a bit and he loves passing horses.
“Saffie does ride this track very well and I think it’s a track that some riders get wrong. I think she’s been a factor in it but what do I do with him? He’s eight years old and he’s creeping up in the handicap.
Hickory could now be set for another outing at his beloved Ascot on British Champions Day, with Osborne continuing: “Last year I wanted to run him in the Balmoral and he missed the cut but on the back of today we should save him for the Balmoral.”
Saffie Osborne added: “He always gets into trouble but he just likes to keep everyone guessing. I know him so well that at halfway I can always tell if it’s a day that he’s going or a day that he’s not.
“It doesn’t really matter how much trouble you run into, I was still travelling so well and it’s easy to find the gaps when you’ve got enough horse to get into them. He loves Ascot and I love him!”
Hickory was a winner on this card in the Wish Big Ascot Food & Wine Festival Classified Stakes 12 months ago and the Osborne team took home the first-prize once again with Malachy’s Wish (7-1) who could now be set for some winter sun in Meydan.
Having been asked to take up the initiative at the halfway point by his rider, he showed plenty of toughness when challenged on either side to hold off Suspicious Mindz by half a length with Aalto a neck further adrift in third.
Jamie Osborne said: “He’s owned by David Kavanagh and Dominic Griffiths who love their time in Dubai so my plan now would be to put him away.
“I don’t think the handicapper ought to move him much, he’s beaten an 88 horse half a length so I’ll put him away and take him to Meydan.
“He’s not going to turn into a Stakes horse in Meydan but there’s a route for him at seven and a mile. He’ll get a mile easily around Meydan and he’s proved today that he handles the fast ground well. He’s pretty straightforward and I think he’s ready to go and have a campaign out there.”
The Andrew Balding-trained Clarity (3-1) held off a mighty challenge from newcomer Divide And Conquer to break her maiden at the fourth time of asking by a neck in the Ascot Events EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes with jockey James Doyle another to enjoy a double on the card.
Doyle had earlier made all aboard Brian Meehan’s 15-8 favourite San Jose in the Charbonnel Et Walker EBF Maiden Stakes, while Charlie Hills’ Nobelos sprung a 33-1 surprise in the Juddmonte EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.
Brodie Hampson got up late aboard George Baker’s 2-1 favourite Tex to win the opening Racing To School Celebrates 25 Years Lady Amateur Jockeys Handicap by three-quarters of a length, while the concluding Sodexo Live! Handicap went to Richard Hannon’s First Legion (5-1).