GROUP one-winning jockey Paul Mulrennan filled a gap in his glittering CV when Satellite of Love rocketed home in Redcar’s richest race today.

Mulrennan always looked confident in the William Hill Two-Year-Old Trophy, coming home clear on the Clive Cox-trained even-money favourite, with Karl Burke’s market rival, Revels, in second (see main picture).

It was a second Two-Year-Old Trophy for the Lambourn trainer after his victory with Dragon Leader in 2023.

With £334,675 of prizemoney on offer, including £183,675 in The Two-Year-Old Trophy, a classy eight-race card was served up to racegoers.

After his big race win in the pale blue colours of Middleham Park Racing, Mulrennan said: "He's improved all year. I was a bit worried about the draw, but he's got so much speed and stays well.

"I used to ride out for Clive Cox in the early days of my career, and he's always given me a few winning rides. It's also great to get a big win for Middleham Park Racing.”

Syndicate manager Tim Palin said: "It's a case of a long-term plan coming together. The entries for this race are in March, so it's been a long time coming. He's probably a group horse."

David Easterby, who shares a training licence with his 95-year-old father, Mick, shed tears of joy after Sondad gave him his first listed winner in the listed John Smith’s EBF Stallions Guisborough Stakes under an inspired ride from Joanna Mason.

The last time Mick Easterby landed one of Redcar’s premier races was with Blue Spinnaker in the Zetland Gold Cup 22 years ago.

The veteran trainer’s granddaughter, Joanna, conjured up a late surge on Sondad to narrowly deny Paul Mulrennan a feature race double on Witness Stand.

After the winner received a rousing reception from the Redcar crowd, David Easterby said: "I said if he won, I'd sing but I can't even speak!"

Mason added: "He's shown he can go on any ground, and he needs every inch of that trip. He's an amazing horse. We've had him since he was a foal and there are plenty of big days ahead for him."

Mason landed a quick-fire double when the Roger Fell-trained Nyman flew close home to overhaul Classic Encounter in the Markse Fabrications & Engineering Straight-Mile Series Final.

The popular rider was winning for the third time on the gelding. "It's better to ride him with a bit more patience. It was a question of 'wait, wait, wait' before making my move," she said.

Fell, who has a race at York in mind for the four-year-old, added: "He comes good at this time of year."

Favourite-backers got off to a good start when Charted Course comfortably won the opening Racing TV EBF Stallions Novice Stakes for Malton father and son training partnership, Richard and Peter Fahey.

Winning rider Oisin Orr said: "He'll improve over the winter and will be a nice horse for next year."

The winner is owned by Wathnan Racing, and there was a promising run in second by Ed Bethell's newcomer Crystal Dark.

Yafaarr relished the step up in trip to land a third victory at Redcar for trainer Sam England and jockey Shane Gray in the Prohibition Bar Handicap (Div 1).

The winning rider said: "It was his first go at the trip and it's a massive improvement. Sam's done a brilliant job, and I think they'll probably want him out again soon."

Matthew Worsnop, of owners Skips and Screwdrivers, said: "He loves it round here and has done that really easily. The step up in trip has made a huge difference."

There was a solid run in second by Mark Walford's Sassy Glory, though she had no chance with the winner.

Lady Hornblower, trained at Middleham by Jedd O’Keeffe, won for the second time in a row at Redcar under a powerful ride from Connor Beasley in the Prohibition Bar Handicap (Div 2).

The winning trainer said: "Connor's instructions were that she needs an even gallop and he's judged it to perfection.

"That's his first winner for us and I'm delighted because I'm a huge fan and he's a lovely guy. Whenever I've put him up on one that I thought would win, it's run terribly, so it's nice for it to come good."

The daughter of Bated Breath has a sales entry at the end of the month but it's still to be decided if she'll go. In the meantime, she'll run again, the trainer added.

A gap looked like it might not come for Duc De Kent and 5lbs-claimer Conor Whiteley in the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap. However, the gelding, trained at Alvechurch by Ian Williams, burst through to follow-up a recent Epsom win.

"He's got a great turn of foot, and the key was getting him relaxed," said Whiteley.

The concluding Watch Race Replays On racingtv.com Handicap was won by previous course winner Emperor Caradoc, trained by Paul Midgley and ridden by Jimmy Sullivan.

The gelding ran on inside the final furlong to overhaul 20-1 shot Our Absent Friends close to home.