JOCKEY Jason Hart roared to a treble to take the honours at Redcar’s penultimate meeting of the season.
Hart’s hat-trick included a double for John and Sean Quinn on The Trickster and Phoenix of Dreams, and was sealed with victory for another Malton yard, Tony Coyle and Kaine Wood, on Thunder Roar.
The Trickster looks to be a horse with a bright future after staying on gamely to beat John and Thady Gosden’s Anglophile, and Charlie Johnston’s Novelista in an exciting finish to the EBF Double Trigger Novice Stakes.
John Quinn said: "We like him a lot. He had a 7lbs penalty for his debut win at Beverley and that takes some carrying on this ground. He's very tough and genuine – he put his head down and wanted it.
"That's it for the season now but he's a fine physical specimen and it's all in front of him."
Quinn paid tribute to legendary stayer Double Trigger, who went on to win 12 group races after making a spectacular debut at Redcar in 1993. "He was the horse of a lifetime," he said.
The handsome trophy was presented by Double Trigger's owner Ron Huggins.
Phoenix of Dreams comfortably justified odds of 1-10 in the opening Jumps Free Trial At Racingtv.Com/Freetrial Maiden Stakes.
The gelding runs in the colours of the Coral Racing Club, which is open to opt in for anyone with a Coral account and has 220,000 members!
"It's a great initiative to get people involved in racehorse ownership," said Quinn.
"It was very straightforward. He's been very consistent – his only blip was when he didn't handle the heavy ground at Chester last time."
Hart’s treble was completed when Thunder Roar justified odds-on favouritism in The Jumps Season Free Trial On Racingtv Handicap.
The gelding was making a swift reappearance after being second at Doncaster on Saturday.
Hart said: "Halfway round, I thought I was beaten but it turned out to be the right decision to turn him out quickly."
Callum Rodriguez is another jockey in form and he landed a double with Ed Bethell’s Native Instinct and Ralph Beckett’s Tazima.
Native Instinct was an impressive winner of the Racingtv.Com/Freetrial EBF Novice Stakes, building on a third place at Thirsk on his previous outing.
"He's a work in progress but we knew he was a relatively talented horse," said Bethell, who's now on 57 winners in 2024. "He was impressive in spite of the ground and will stay further. That's it now for the season."
Rodriguez added: "He's had a couple of runs and put that experience to good use. He's done it nicely and is still immature."
The son of Night of Thunder is owned by Peter Jeffers, who is based just outside Helmsley and retired from running a steel fabrications company.
He said: "When he ran at Thirsk, we knew we had a racehorse with a good spirit and mind. We're looking forward to him next season."
Tazima made the long trip from Ralph Beckett’s Hampshire yard pay off at odds of 16-1 when staying on too strongly for odds-on favourite No Retreat, trained at Newmarket by Roger Varian, in The Empentis – Supporting Equine Staff Novice Stakes.
Rodriguez said: "He stays well and handles soft so, hopefully, he'll be progressive. The further he went, the better he went."
Fast Fred, trained by Phillip Makin and ridden by Harrison Shaw, was even more impressive in the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap, winning by six and a half lengths from David Thompson’s Visitant.
The winner is owned by Northallerton farmer Julian Swinbank, whose father, Alan, trained 840 winners.
The gelding is named after Julian's four-year-old son, who "likes to fly around", according to his dad.
Julian said: "We've had the horse since he was a yearling and we've always thought he was OK. We've had to be really patient and give him time.
"He'll probably get further and it's likely we'll pursue an all-weather campaign up to Christmas and then give him a break."
Trainer Phillip Makin added: "He seems to have improved with each start and looks to appreciate the soft ground. We'll have a look to see if there's another race for him on turf while the ground's as it is, otherwise we'll switch to the all-weather."
Patience also proved a virtue with the Michael Dods-trained Deputy, who relished the soft ground to overcome Kevin Ryan’s well-backed Belsito in the concluding Start Your RacingTV Free Trial Now Apprentice Handicap under a strong ride from Jonny Peate.
Owner Vernon Spinks, director of agrochemical company DKB Crop Protection, said: “He loves this soft ground and it’s been a question of being patient until he got his conditions," he said.