Right Wing, the quirky six-year-old at his best when he finds trouble, continued his love affair with Yorkshire yesterday. The horse has a win and two places in the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster to show from previous trips up to the White Rose county from trainer John Dunlop's Sussex base.
Sent 38 miles further north to York this time, he saw off the younger generation to gain an authoritative win in the Listed uTravel.co.uk Strensall Stakes.
Things looked bleak as the slow-starter still trailed the field at halfway in the nine-furlong race.
But the unfancied 8 to 1 shot gradually weaved his way through the field, picking off his eight rivals one by one under John Reid, until hitting the front 100 yards out for a half-length defeat of Autonomy.
Widely-touted three-year-old Fanaar, for whom Pat Eddery deserted Right Wing, was sent off 5 to 4 favourite and was fully four lengths back in third place.
"He's a funny old horse but he has a lot of ability," Dunlop's travelling head lad, Robert Hamilton, said of the winner, who was taking his career earnings to nearly £160,000.
"He needs to use his turn of foot and find trouble in running. He had a lot of trouble today after a slow start but he did it well - John said he got there too soon.
"He has won the Lincoln and been placed in it twice and he has got a lot of class."
Andreyev floored a big gamble on Night Flight - backed from a morning 5 to 1 into 9 to 4 favourite - in the Lawrence Batley Rated Stakes.
The 16 to 1 chance swept past the market leader at the furlong-pole to score by two lengths and complete a 109 1/2 to 1 double for trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Jimmy Fortune.
"This horse has missed four engagements, at Baden-Baden, France and Newmarket to run here and Richard has placed him to win," said Hannon's travelling head lad, Taffy Williams.
Fortune added: "He's a lovely old horse. I was worried the ground would not be soft enough but he handled it well."
Fortune - deputising for the suspended Richard Hughes - and Hannon had teed up their double when 11 to 2 shot Capriolo made all in the Batleys Cash and Carry Handicap.
Tobougg earned a 25 to 1 quote from Ladbrokes for the Sagitta 2000 Guineas after an impressive debut success in the EBF Prince Of Wales's Own Regiment Of Yorkshire Maiden Stakes.
The beautifully-bred colt, by Barathea out of French Oaks winner Lacovia, hinted he had the ability to match his pedigree as he came from last to first to score by a length and three quarters without being asked a serious question.
"That's a relief!" trainer Mick Channon said of the victory by the two-year-old, whom Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum bought for 230,000 guineas as a yearling.
"He has always had plenty of ability and we have always thought he is a very good horse but he is still a big baby.
"He is in all the big races - the Dewhurst, the Salamandre and the Racing Post Trophy - but he has only won a maiden and I will need to speak to Sheikh Ahmed."
