NAKEETA edged out favourite Flymetothestars in a thrilling finish to the Betfred Ebor Handicap at York.

Ridden by 5lb claimer Callum Rodrigeuz, the Iain Jardine-trained six-year-old had not won since September 2015 but had gone close many times, including when touched off in the 2016 Chester Cup.

Lord Yeats and Ivan Grozny set a solid pace, tracked by Soldier In Action and Dubka, with 7/1 market leader Flymetothestars held up towards the rear.

The race for Europe's richest handicap opened up in the straight, as Flymetothestars burst through the pack to lead. However, Nakeeta (12/1) was the last to arrive on the scene and got up to win by a head. Natural Scenery was two lengths away in third, with a further length and a quarter back to Arch Villain in fourth.

A delighted Rodriguez said: "It's unbelievable, it's been a great year for me, I moved to Michael Dods in March and my career has gone from strength to strength.

"Mr Jardine has been a good supporter of mine throughout the year and we've spent a lot of time with this horse over the last couple of months, going up on my Sundays off and riding out and I think he has had this race in mind for a long time.

"We know he stays two miles and likes a strong pace to aim at, we thought the Ebor would suit him down to the ground. He's better coming through horses, when he gets to the front he doesn't do a lot and I still probably got there a bit too soon.

"I was a little bit worried, but he saw it out well when the other horse came to him and did it well in the end."

Jardine said: "He's run well in so many big races, we decided to claim off him today. Callum gave him a great ride, I've got my own apprentice (Jamie Gormley), but Callum just has that bit more experience.

"He's come close so many times he deserves this, I'm so glad he's won one. He came from a different parish. He's a hold-up horse and needs cover. When the favourite came at him, I knew he'd stay on strongly.

"He's been unlucky in the past, but it all worked out today.

"We were second in the Ebor last year with Shrewd. Nakeeta missed the cut last year and ran in the two-mile race at the meeting instead and was second. I've been training six or seven years now and it is days like today why we do it.

"Days like this are what it's all about, it's brilliant."

Sands Of Mali caused a 14/1 surprise to give trainer Richard Fahey his first win in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes. The son of Panis stepped up considerably on his Nottingham success three weeks ago to land the six-furlong prize.

Paul Hanagan had him smartly out of the stalls and Sands Of Mali kept up the gallop to hold off Invincible Army. Cardsharp and Headway dead-heated for third place.

Sands Of Mali was given a quote of 50/1 with Paddy Power for the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

Hanagan said: "He's a bit inexperienced, but he pinged the gates and showed a great cruising speed. He took some pulling up. I think this year is just a bonus with him, he's only going to improve."

Fahey said: "That's brilliant, I've been second in it three times I think, even with Ribchester, so I've been desperate to tick it off my list.

"I couldn't believe it when he got beat first time, but that's racing. I know he was 14/1 but he didn't know that, we've always really liked him. This is a big deal for us, I'm chuffed.

"He's in everything, like the Middle Park and what have you, it looks a big shout entering these horses when they've only won a maiden but you have to do it."

Trainer James Tate said of the runner-up: "I'm feeling mixed emotions, nobody likes finishing second. Having beaten Cardsharp and Headway, it represents a step up on his form.

"He's a big horse and can only keep on improving. We will look at the Mill Reef and the Middle Park, but we want to avoid soft ground."

William Haggas said of Headway: "I'm satisfied, I wouldn't say I was happy. Judging on that run I think it's time to step him up in trip."

GROUP 3 SUCCESS

Mustashry wore down long-time leader Forest Ranger to take the Group 3 Betfred Mobile Strensall Stakes.

Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old backed up a win at Chelmsford 11 days earlier with a hard-fought success in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Forest Ranger made a bold bid to make all the running over the nine furlongs and had most of the field off the bridle when he increased the tempo from two furlongs out. But the 5/2 favourite got on top close home to gain the verdict by three-quarters of a length. Sovereign Debt was third.

Winning jockey Jim Crowley said: "He did very well to win at Chelmsford the other day and he's not got too many miles on the clock. I always felt I had plenty of horse underneath me. He's a nice horse."

Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold said: "We've always thought highly of him and he's finally getting to show his potential. He kept on getting held up by a splint, but he's a late-maturing type.

"Sir Michael always thought he'd stay 10 furlongs, I wasn't sure looking at his pedigree, but it looks like it would be well within his compass. We'll consider all the options for him now and hopefully he'll be around another year."

When asked if a supplementary entry for the Champion Stakes would be considered, Gold said: "I'd have to talk to Sir Michael, he might want to take it softly with him this year and he may think that would be too much of a leap."

MELROSE HANDICAP

James Doyle brought Secret Advisor with a well-timed run to land a gamble in the Betfred Melrose Handicap.

The 5/1 favourite made up a lot of ground in the closing stages on the far rail to nail his stablemate Bin Battuta in the dying strides. Tor was at the forefront of a strong pace that fell apart at the business end of the mile and three-quarters.

Bin Battuta looked like landing the spoils after getting the better of Here And Now, but the Charlie Appleby-trained Secret Advisor delivered a sucker punch to score by a neck and lead home a Godolphin one-two. Here And Now was a neck away in third, with On To Victory a length and a half back in fourth.

Doyle said: "If you drew a line from his run at Goodwood, where the ground was too soft, he should have been clear favourite anyway.

"He put up a good performance at Royal Ascot and I rode him work the other day on the Limekilns. I was blowing the other day as he's hard work. He's lazy, but he didn't half pick up late on.

"It was a good performance there because we were strung out. I wanted to go up the middle, but I got hampered and the race got away from me so I went over what I thought was the least favoured part of the track."

Alex Merriam, Appleby's assistant, said: "James said that he met trouble in running so he's done well to win in the end.

"He's been consistent this season and deserved that. You could forget his last run at Goodwood as he hated the ground. He's a horse for next year, that could be it for this season."