Two wins from as many starts for Hawick racehorse trainer Ewan Whillans with Team Player
Team Player notched up two wins from as many starts for Hawick racehorse trainer Ewan Whillans at Musselburgh on Saturday.
Ridden by Hawick’s Greg Fairley, the four-year-old chestnut gelding – previously trained by North Yorkshire’s Gemma Tutty and, before her, Berkshire’s Jack Channon – finished almost two lengths ahead of Oisin Murphy on Dancingwithmyself in the one-mile-six-furlong Virgin Bet Daily Price Boost Queen’s Cup Handicap to land its top prize of £25,770 at 11-1.
“He was actually bought to go hurdling but we’re going to have some fun with him on the flat by the look of it,” said Whillans.
“He came here for the schooling day and it’s definitely helped him.
“The Chester Cup and maybe the Northumberland Plate consolation race could be on the agenda later in the year.”
Owned by property developer Les de la Haye, that was Team Player’s second win in the space of two months for Whillans and Fairley, following one at Newcastle in February over two miles at 33-1, earning £7,956, and fourth ever, the others having been at Surrey’s Lingfield Park last September and Chester two months prior, both with Finley Marsh riding.
Fairley went on to manage a second place at Southwell in Nottinghamshire the day after on You Will See for Iain Jardine’s Dumfries and Galloway stables, also at 33-1.
Team Player was the Borders’ only winner at the East Lothian track’s seven-race meeting at the weekend.