TOM DASCOMBE and Michael Owen were back in the winner’s enclosure with Musical Valley at Haydock yesterday to provide a boost ahead of their Classic bid this weekend.
The Manor House stable send Haydock and Royal Ascot winner Brown Panther to Hamburg on Sunday for the German Derby, with the Ladbrokes St Leger in September a long-term aim. And Musical Valley showed the burgeoning quality housed in the Cheshire yard when the juvenile landed the Float Glass Industries Maiden under Liverpool jockey Franny Norton on the first day of Haydock’s three-day meeting.
The Three Valleys colt beat the 3-10 favourite Excavator and Owen said: “Our plan was to track the favourite and see if we could beat her.
“The horse has improved all season and has taken another step forward. He was only a cheap purchase, but the syndicate who own him have had some great pleasure this year.”
Of Brown Panther, he added: “We think the world of him and think he’s up to this grade. We go there with a chance and it’s exciting to be part of another big race.”
