White Heart swooped for a Listed race victory at Doncaster yesterday but left Mark Johnston's assistant Bobby Elliott ruing his failure to persuade his boss to run the gelding in the Worthington Lincoln.
Minutes after White Heart's victory in the Doncaster Mile on the opening day of the Flat turf campaign, Elliott grinned: "I did say to Mark we should go for the Lincoln. Mark's never won the race - and I could have had a nice bet."
In the event Johnston, in the Middle East to saddle Fruits of Love for a supporting event on the Dubai World Cup card, did not even enter Maktoum Al Maktoum's gelding for tomorrow's one mile handicap.
Instead he opted to step White Heart up a grade. Well-ridden by Darryll Holland, the 9 to 4 chance shot clear of the pack with more than a furlong to travel and went on to defeat Generous Libra by 2 1/2 lengths.
White Heart gained his victories over six and seven furlongs last year but Elliott said: "We thought he might need a mile. Last year before we put the blinkers he was winning but not concentrating and they were certainly a help. He won it well today and I'm sure he can go on now and win a Group race or two."
Steel grey skies and rain had greeted the start of the meeting and punters were hardly cheered when 40 to 1 chance Prince Nicholas landed the opener.
The outsider of 17, ridden by Robyn Brisland, reeled in Noukari inside the final furlong to score by half length.
The bookmakers had further cause for celebration as 20 to 1 chance Kingston Venture defeated Romero in the Transpennine Express Handicap.
His trainer Bill Turner was gaining quick recompense after Lord Bankes had finished runner-up in the Brocklesby Stakes.
Champion jockey Kieren Fallon wasted no time opening his turf account for 1999 when bringing Night Shot with a strong late run to get up on the line in a thrilling three-way photo to the Tote Stakes.
Winning trainer Ian Balding was delighted with the gelding's success, and said: "That was a good performance, we hoped he would be a Group horse this year and he will now take his chance in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. And it was great for Kieren to start like that."
Night Shot is one of 40 horses Jeff Smith has in training including a couple in France and the speedy Lochangel of whom Balding added: "She is very well and will reappear in the Temple Stakes at Sandown."
Bryan McMahon is hoping Seraphina's success in the Brocklesby Stakes is a good omen for Nominator Lad who carries the same colours in tomorrow's Worthington Lincoln.
Seraphina, one of 16 two-year-olds in the McMahon team, won in decisive fashion under George Duffield and the Tamworth trainer relishing the wet weather, reasoned: "Nominator Lad is in very good form and I just hope it keeps raining."
Having been headed by Debbie's Warning approaching the final furlong of the Badsworth Maiden Stakes Tabareeh rallied in good style and appreciating every yard of the trip got back on top inside the last to win going away by two and a half lengths.
Winning trainer Marcus Tregoning's assistant Patrick MacEwan said: "I am not sure where he will go next, but he is in the English, French and Irish Derbies.
Les Eyre, who runs both Nigrasine and Night of Glass in the Lincoln has his horses in good form again and sent out his third winner of the week when Holy Smoke won the Golden Boots Lady Riders' Handicap Stakes under a good ride from Diana Jones. Eyre reasoned: "Diana is the best, she rode him to get the trip and she made all the difference."
