Further and Beyond works hard for win
Published:Friday | April 9, 2021 | 12:21 AMAinsley Walters - Gleaner Writer
DANE Nelson had to dig deep astride 1-5 favourite, FURTHER AND BEYOND, for a short-head victory over 6-1 chance, BILLY WHIZZ, in yesterday’s seven-furlong Prince Consort Stakes.
Forced to dictate the backstretch pace in a race void of speed, FURTHER AND BEYOND, reporting off a three-month lay-up, knotted up with BILLY WHIZZ from early and almost paid the price in the stretch run.
Running with a nine-pound weight advantage and a March 21 third-place effort behind CALCULUS in the Sir Howard Stakes under his girth, BILLY WHIZZ took the fight to FURTHER AND BEYOND in the straight, charging at the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes winner inside the last furlong.
Nelson had to ride out FURTHER AND BEYOND, with sustained whipping close home, to prevail over BILLY WHIZZ under Anthony Thomas, a clash of joint champion jockeys in the afternoon’s biggest race.
Despite his three-month absence, FURTHER AND BEYOND managed to clock 1:26.0, the exact time his four-year-old, classic-placed stablemate from last season, ONE OF A KIND, posted to beat overnight-allowance runners on Wednesday.
Sir Howard Stakes-winner, CALCULUS, finished third, never a threat to the first two, though given every chance to close from off the pace.
Improved claiming jockey, Youville Pinnock, shared riding honours with Nelson, who enjoyed an armchair ride aboard speedy PATRIARCH to land the five-and-a-half furlong closing event by a wide margin.
Pinnock won the first two events on the nine-race card by narrow margins, a neck and a short head, astride 8-1 outsider, LALALA BAMBA, and 6-5 favourite, PURE HEART, respectively.
Racing takes a break at the weekend due to COVID-19 curfews and returns with back-to-back meets, Saturday-Sunday, April 17 and 18.