Broadstairs Beauty defied his advancing years to take his earnings past the £70,000-mark for his proud owner at Doncaster yesterday. Any thoughts of retiring the eight-year-old gelding have been extinguished by his continuing zest for racing.
Racing from 5lb out of the handicap, the 16 to 1 chance knuckled down to his task in great style and led inside the final furlong for a one and a quarter length verdict over Repertory.
"He just goes on surprising us," said trainer Derek Shaw. "I've always said I wouldn't keep running him if he wasn't paying his way but he's now four times this year."
Broadstairs Beauty was bought at breeze-up sales by previous trainer Michael Chapman for his current owner Judy Hunt as a 50th birthday present.
"He's graduated all the way from sand racing at Southwell and he must be the most genuine horse in the country," said Mrs Hunt's husband Paddy.
It's usually worth keeping an eye on horses that have finished close up in the Royal Hunt Cup and the system paid off again as Labeq obliged in the 49's Handicap.
Peter Walwyn's colt, a six-lengths fifth in the Royal Ascot handicap, was backed down to 5 to 2 favourite and justified the confidence after escaping from a pocket.
Richard Hills was forced to switch and Labeq found a change of gear to pull clear inside the final furlong for a two and a half-length verdict over Karakia.
"He ran a blinder in the Hunt Cup and if it had dried out a little bit more he might have been even closer," said Walwyn's assistant Ralph Beckett.
"He's effective at anything from one mile to one and a quarter and is probably a better horse being dropped in. His main target this year will probably be the Cambridgeshire."
The Mail On Sunday Mile Handicap looked a highly-competitive affair on paper but favourite backers were on the mark, courtesy of La Modiste.
The Gay Kelleway-trained mare, backed down to 6 to 1 after being initially available at 8s, out-pointed Bowcliffe by two lengths.
With the help of his superior stamina, Silence Reigns carried off the Home Of Sunday Racing Conditions Stakes to maintain the rich vein of form for Michael Stoute.
Silver Patriarch, the 1997 St Leger winner, proved a disappointing odds-on favourite when only fourth behind Fragrant Mix in yesterday's Grand Prix de StCloud.
Pat Eddery said of John Dunlop's charge, who was beaten over three lengths by the winner: "The pace was much too slow as we had feared it might be. Silver Patriarch was not beaten on merit."
Fragrant Mix was the second consecutive big race Sunday winner for trainer Andre Fabre and jockey Oliver Peslier following on from Sheikh Mohammed's Limpid in last weekend's Grand Prix de Paris.
Fragrant Mix was produced with a craftily-timed late run to beat the Peter Chapple-Hyam trained Romanov by a length with outsider Gazelle Royale in third.
Apprentice Adrian Nicholls completed a hat-trick with River Beat when they followed up their wins at Carlisle and Ayr by taking the CSMA's 75th Anniversary Stakes at Goodwood yesterday afternoon.
But there was a sting in the tail for Nicholls as he was suspended for two days for careless riding after minor interference between the 11 to 4 winner and Chrysolite a furlong and a half from home.
