JOCKEY Oisin Orr grabbed the honours at Redcar’s richest meeting of the year today, landing the prestigious William Hill Two Year Old Trophy on Ardisia.
Trained by in-form Hugo Palmer, Ardisia overcame a wide draw to cosily land a competitive renewal of the listed William Hill Two Year Old Trophy.
Orr said: "I used plenty of horse to get across but he travelled well, and he was only doing enough in the last 50 yards. He's very tough and laid-back and Hugo's horses are flying."
Ed Walker's Golden Brown was a gallant runner up, with the Tim Easterby-trained Argentine Tango a close-up third.
"He's such a trojan!" part-owner Jane Mairs said of the winner, who came out on top by half a length.
"He goes for it and I couldn't be happier. That's his tenth run and fifth win, with two thirds as well. You can't complain about that, can you? Hugo said this morning he was in great fettle and goes on any ground."
The big race win secured a double for Orr, who won the opening Racing TV EBF Stallions Novice Stakes on the impressive Pandemonium for the Newmarket yard of Simon and Ed Crisford.
“I think he could be pretty exciting,' said Orr after the son of No Nay Never justified odds of 1-5 to maintain his unbeaten record in two races so far.
"He was only ever doing enough in front and the more racing he gets the better he'll be," added Orr.
Karl Burke's debutante Skiathos was promising on his debut without troubling the winner, who looks a horse with a bright future.
Redcar’s second listed race of the day, the Racing TV EBF Guisborough Stakes, produced a brilliant training performance by Middleham’s Ed Bethell when Elim returned from a year off the track to land the listed Racing TV EBF Guisborough Stakes under Connor Beasley.
The trainer, who gave the credit to staff who look after the mare at the Middleham yard, now plans to aim her at races in France.
He said: "She's had a stop and start season with bad feet, but the farriers have also done a great job. She loves this ground, although I thought she might need the run today.
"She was also entered in the fillies race at Ascot, but I like this track. We have more success here than we do at Ascot!
"There are races in France for her in November so the more black type we can build on her pedigree the better."
Steph Hollinshead's Myal was a game second, with Karl Burke's favourite, Volterra, third.
Staffordshire trainer Jennie Candlish and star apprentice William Pyle struck twice, including Debora's Dream winning the Marske Fabrications & Engineering Straight-Mile Final by half a length from Jez Bomb.
Assistant trainer Alan O'Keeffe said: "This has been the main plan for a while, and he got a great ride."
The Sioux Nation gelding won at Redcar last month after "a few issues" earlier in the season.
The win sealed a week to remember for owner Gary White, of James Paul Services To Industry, who had a listed winner at Chantilly, in France, with Alzahir.
O'Keeffe said Debora's Dream is likely to go to the October sales at Newmarket.
Earlier, the Candlish-Pyle combination struck with a fifth win of the season for Spartan Times in the Watch Live Racing On Racing TV Handicap (Division 2).
O'Keeffe said the long-term plan is to return to hurdling with the four-year-old, adding: "He's in great form. He didn't get a smooth run at Chester last time and would have won with a clearer passage. He's improving no end.
"He'll go back to hurdling but while there's a bit of juice in the ground, we might stick to the flat. Jennie's done a great job keeping him in such good form."
There was also a double for Tim Easterby and David Allan, including an 18th career win for the legendary veteran, Copper Knight, in the final race of the day, the Watch Race Replays On racingtv.com Handicap.
Easterby said: "He's just a wonderful old horse." The 11-year-old gelding could now line up for a race named in his honour at York on Friday, and Easterby is undecided whether he’ll stay in training next year.
The enduring Easterby-Allan partnership struck earlier when Jewel Maker sparkled on his 100th start to land the Watch Live Racing On Racing TV Handicap (Division 1).
With 11 victories, he's now the winning-most horse for Reality Partnerships – a gem of a horse to own. He takes over from Hamish McGonagall and Kenny The Captain, who both racked up 10 wins for the syndicate.
Reality Partnerships have 25 horses with Easterby and that was the syndicate's 19th winner of the year.
Easterby said: "He's a fantastic little horse. It's been too firm for him this summer and he's enjoyed a bit of cut today."
Reality Partnerships manager Paul Nodding added: "He's been great fun for members."
Peaky Blinder landed the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap for the powerful Andrew Balding yard, with Callum Hutchinson in the saddle. The colt asserted close home to deny Brian Ellison’s Division Day a hat-trick.
Sponsors Dawn Welsh and sister Nic, from Market Cross, along with stable lad Toby Jordan, played a blinder by wearing caps to get into the Peaky spirit!
