Shocks Keep Flowing

Racing has reached the halfway point of the flat season, the lull in between the excitement of Epsom and the regality of Royal Ascot. That hasn’t stopped the shocks.

In East Yorkshire, it was Beverley’s day in the sun with the Hilary Needler, providing a last chance for two-year-olds to test their mettle before Royal Ascot beckons.

13 fillies from mostly Northern stables battled it out for a place in one of the juvenile races in under two weeks' time.

The favourite Maw Lam got away slowly but switched to the outside, she made a powerful bid for glory.

Coming up the Westwood hill was Perfect Part, making her debut on the day for Brian Ellison. She burst through the ranks and stayed on up the hill, powering away from her rivals and managed to beat the favourite by half a length.

Her SP ended up being one of, if not, the biggest priced winner of the Hilary Needler and one of the biggest so far this season at 125/1, as well as collecting a £25,000 prize and a trip to Royal Ascot.

The Two-Year-Old Trophy was a simpler affair, as Shareholder took the prize for Karl Burke and adds yet another potential star to new super-owners Wathnan Racing, who have beefed up their Royal Ascot squad with six big buys, including Irish 2000 Guineas second Haatem.

At Haydock, it was the John Of Gaunt Stakes for the seven furlong specialists. Familiar names like Pogo and Jumby all featured in a 12 strong field.

It was Tiber Flow, who was last seen falling spectacularly at York after clipping another horse in the home straight. The William Haggas trained gelding had been lightly raced last season and only won the Chipchase at Newcastle last season.

He finished second in the John Of Gaunt last season, and went one better this time, despite being towards the rear coming down the home straight. Tom Marquand expertly navigated his way through the crowd and finished powerfully at the line.

Finally, over in America it was the third and final leg of the US Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.

Traditionally it’s always run at Belmont in New York, but for the first time in the race’s history it was run at Saratoga, also in the state of New York.

Sadly there was no Triple Crown attempt this year, but there was still drama as Dornoch pulled off a shock to win the race ahead of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and Preakness Stakes winner Seize The Grey, both of whom finished way down the field.