Ayr Saturday

Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup

AYR’S meeting last Saturday was delayed after a deluge of rain left standing water in places and the race order was rejigged when the meeting was belatedly given the green light, with the ground heavy all over.

Scottish owner Evan Sutherland has enjoyed very good fortune with his sprinters since taking up racehorse ownership after retiring, and he bagged a second Ayr Gold Cup when Pellitory (David O’Meara/Danny Tudhope) sluiced through the Craigie mud to beat Tuco Salamanca (Ollie Sangster) and 22 others to take victory in Scotland’s richest flat race.

The 12/1 shot was held up early before making stealthy headway on the outside of the leaders and quickened well a furlong out to take command, passing the post half a length to the good from the runner-up, who pulled clear of the others on the far side of the track.

Sutherland won the race in 2013 with Highland Colori, while his colours have also been successful in the Wokingham with Out Do and the Stewards’ Cup, which Aberama Gold won in even worse conditions in 2023.

Beauty masters conditions

Silent Beauty (Kevin Philippart de Foy/David Egan) landed the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes at 8/11, beating Ruby Moon (Richard & Peter Fahey/Oisin Orr) by a length and three-quarters. Angel In My Heart (Adrian Keatley/Mikey Sheehy) was a head away in third.

The favourite raced keenly while pressing the leader, took charge over a furlong from home and asserted inside the final half-furlong. Four withdrawals reduced the field to five, but Silent Beauty handled the testing surface best and won with more authority than the bare margin suggests.

Fast Tracker

relishes the mud

Fast Tracker (Ed Walker/James Doyle) justified 11/4 favouritism in the Listed Doonside Cup, readily beating Ice Max (Karl Burke/Sam James) by two and a quarter lengths. Grey Cuban (Hugo Palmer/Saffie Osborne) was another two and a half lengths back in third.

Last of six in the early stages on heavy ground, Fast Tracker made smooth progress on the outer approaching the straight, ranging alongside Ice Max before taking over inside the final furlong and staying on powerfully.

His previous runs for Ed Walker had come at a mile, but he’s clearly well suited by 10 furlongs when stamina is at a premium as it was here.

Newbury Saturday

NABATI (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) edged a three-way finish to Newbury’s Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes, run in honour of Ian Balding.

The 7/4 chance denied Jolivette (Andrew Balding/Colin Keane) by a short-head, with 5/4 favourite Arapaho Gold (Michael Dods/Connor Beasley) another neck behind.

Slowly away and under pressure before the other principals, Nabati worked into contention from the rear before joining the long-time leader inside the final furlong. Jolivette fought all the way, but Nabati led in the final strides to reverse earlier course-and-distance form with Arapaho Gold.

The result gave Appleby and Buick back-to-back victories in the race and while Andrew Balding would have loved to take home the trophy named after his father’s great champion, Jolivette’s game effort ensured a fitting finish to a race run in honour of the late Master of Kingsclere.

Miss Yechance makes all

Miss Yechance (Karl Burke/Jack Nicholls) is improving fast and sprang a 12/1 surprise in the Group 3 World Trophy Stakes, making all to beat Shagraan (Clive Cox/Silvestre de Sousa) by a neck, with the runner-up’s stablemate Diligent Harry (Ryan Moore) a further two lengths away in third and 9/4 favourite Starlust only fourth without apparent excuse.

Keen early but always in control at the head of affairs, Miss Yechance was pressed from halfway, edged right under pressure, but kept finding on the fast ground.

It provided a landmark in the career of promising apprentice Nicholls, with this his first group success.