Lequinto claims remarkable treble at Windsor

Lequinto and his jockey Matthew Lloyd Slater. Photo: Helen Edwards

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Lequinto has raced to a remarkable hat-trick in just a week at Windsor, making it an unforgettable experience for young jockey, Matthew Lloyd Slater, writes Dave Wright.

The eight-year-old trained by Tony Carroll started his winning sequence in the Royal Windsor Supports Racing Staff Week Apprentice Handicap on Monday of last week, June 23.

He returned to the riverside track on Saturday, when the odds-on favourite landed the five-furlong Equustrong UK Handicap.

And Lequinto completed his astonishing treble on Monday in the Weekend Winners On Sky Sports Racing Handicap over six furlongs. This was the most impressive of his three performances, as the 11/10 shot came from the back, swooping around his eight rivals to win by three and three-quarters of a length.

Owned by Mark Wellbelove, this was Lequinto's 11th success in 58 starts, and he is entered for an apprentice race at Newbury this Thursday (July 3).

These are the only three wins Slater has had in his 29 racecourse appearances.

Another young jockey who left Windsor smiling on Monday evening was Ashley Lewis, as he steered 40/1 outsider Galileo's Compass to a shock victory in the CLP Summer Handicap.

Trained by Mark Hoad, it was the five-year-old's first win in 13 starts.

Oisin Murphy is making a habit of winning the Fitzdares Sprint Series qualifiers at Windsor and his run continued last Monday on the Harry Charlton-trained Grand Karat (7/2), finishing a length clear of 7/4 favourite Elmonjed, who won the Fitzdares final last August.

With three runners on the card in different races, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing members were out in force on a warm Monday evening at Windsor.

And the 'Eagle' syndicate cheered home the Roger Varian-trained Antipodes (10/1) in the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Stakes. It was the three-year-old's first win in three attempts.

"He's a beautiful-looking horse and is still learning," said winning jockey Ray Dawson.

"I'm really pleased as there were a lot of owners here."

Dante's Lad (6/4 favourite), with Billy Loughnane riding for George Boughey, won the Download The Fitzdares App Now Handicap to follow up his victory at York a month earlier.

Windsor take a week off before staging a meeting on Monday, July 14.