REDCAR’S Zetland Gold Cup is a race Ed Bethell admits he likes to target – and he struck for the second time in three years with the impressive Danger Bay today.
The Middleham trainer’s father, James, first won the Zetland Gold Cup with Abercata in 1978, and it took him 39 years to win the historic trophy again with Briardale in 2017.
Ed won it with Oviedo in 2023 and scored again just three years later in the 75th running of the race with Danger Bay – in the same colours of Fiona Carmichael.
"I love to target this race because it's such a good track for these kind of horses," said Ed, who could now target the John Smith's Cup at York in July with the chestnut son of New Bay.
"He's a decent horse and there's plenty of improvement to come," he added.
Winning rider Callum Rodriguez said: "He's a lovely horse and that was a nice performance. He was smooth and comfortable all the way and there's more to come."
There was a landmark victory for Faye McManoman in the opening Join Racing TV Now EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes when she rode her 100th winner for Malton trainer, Nigel Tinkler, on El Floridita.
"It's a great day to hit the 100 and I can't thank Nigel enough for all the support he's given me," said the jockey, who described the winner as a "pocket rocket with a great attitude".
Tinkler said: "Faye's a big part of the team. She's put in 100 per cent over the past eight years and it's fantastic to pay her back."
El Floridita, a son of Havana Grey, is destined for the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot, with Tinkler saying: “He'll improve a lot.”
Badri, trained by Michael Herrington and ridden by Jason Hart, will have another crack at the Tokyo Trophy at Epsom on Derby Day after arriving late to land the racingtv.com Handicap.
"He's won it, been 7th and 3rd in the past, so that's where we're heading again," said co-owner Robin Johnson, of RJH Ltd.
The winning jockey said: "That's the laziest he's ever been through a race. He normally tanks along but I thought I was in trouble at halfway, then he hit the line well."
Mayo County has earned a summer break after winning the Book For Ladies Day – 20th June Handicap for the second year running.
The mare is trained at Malton by Julie Camacho, ridden by Oisin Orr, and owned and bred by retired Leeds insurance broker Simon Bland.
"She's been on the go all winter, so she deserves a break now," said Camacho. "Our horses have been a bit slow to come to hand but we're starting to get going now, and we thought she'd run well."
Mr Bland added: "It makes it extra-special to have a winner when you've bred it as well."
Brain Freeze, trained at Denton, near Darlington, by Michael Dods, and well ridden by 5lbs claimer Rhys Elliott, survived a stewards' enquiry to win the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap by a head from Bryan Smart’s Fille Unique.
Dods said: "She showed a good attitude and I thought Rhys gave her a good ride."
The horse is owned by Ian Davison and it was consolation for one of his partners with the horse, Ronnie Evans, who was celebrating his 77th birthday.
Ronnie's a Boro fan who was at Wembley on Saturday when his team lost to Hull City in the play-offs final. "This makes up for it," he said.
The most impressive winner of the day was Romanticizing with a smooth seven-lengths victory in the Watch Racing TV In HD Maiden Stakes.
The beautifully bred colt, by the legendary Sea The Stars, is trained at Newmarket by William Haggas and was ridden with supreme confidence by Danny Tudhope.
Woodleigh outstayed Kameel to land the final race of the day, the Racing Again Tomorrow On Racing TV Handicap, in the lands of Oisin McSweeney. The winner, trained by Roger Fell, had been a promising second of 13 at Ripon last week.
MAIN ACTION PICTURE: Danger Bay and Callum Rodriguez (right) win the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar