Fanning bandwagon rolls on
Joe Fanning, fresh from riding a treble at Haydock Park on Saturday, followed up with a 1,070-1 double at York to take his tally for the season to 59.
He second success of the day came for Middleham trainer Kate Walton, whose late father Sam Hall had a great record at York, when 50-1 chance Queen Charlotte won the Wholesale Madness Handicap.
Queen Charlotte battled back in the gamest fashion to get the better of Bishopstone Man by a length and complete a 1,070-1 double for jockey Joe Fanning.
Mrs Walton, who is better known for her training of jumpers, said: “That is my second Flat winner and my first runner and first winner at York – it is fantastic, this was father’s favourite course and hopefully he is looking down on us today.
“I thought Queen Charlotte would run a good race as she has been well at home, but I thought she might need it – and I am pleased for her owner, Paul Colley, he is from London but is living near us at Leyburn now – and he had £10 each way on her.”
James Bethell, a Middleham neighbour of Mrs Walton, has just returned from a holiday in Majorca and King Harson quickly recouped the expenses when winning the Monks Cross Shopping Park Quintin Gilbey Silver Trophy to initiate the Fanning brace.
King Harson was drawn 20 and that is usually the death knell over seven furlongs here, but Fanning had him very smartly away and soon at the head of affairs, and he kept just enough in reserve to hold the determined challenge of Harrison Point by the narrowest of margins.
Trainer Jamie Osborne and owner Paul Dixon completed a first and last race double with Overdrawn, ridden by Richard Quinn took the Maxiprint Nursery, and Electrique, who was kept going in great style by George Duffield to land the Roofs Above Maiden Stakes.
Dixon said: “Jamie is doing brilliantly with his two-year-olds this season, he is a trainer to follow.
“Overdrawn is in the big sales race at Doncaster, and it might be silly giving the entry money away, but Jamie thinks the six furlongs is too short for him.
“He is also in the mile nursery so we will have to see, but he is going to be a better horse next year.”
Malton trainer Richard Fahey set a personal best score of 45 when Philharmonic rallied in pleasing fashion under a good ride from Paul Hanagan to open his account in the Smith Brothers Maiden Auction Stakes.
Fahey said: “This is our best season ever, isn’t life great!
“Philharmonic is still laid back, but he is nice little horse and I like him a lot.
“He will have learned a lot today, it will have done him a lot of good.”
Ile Michel ended a 121-day blank spell for trainer Lady Herries when coming out best under Seb Sanders in the Three Hares Premier Claiming Stakes.
Ile Michel was claimed for £21,000 by PJ Finn and will now be trained by Martin Pipe.
Brett Doyle makes the most of the chances he gets for the Sir Michael Stoute stable and he struck again on Dalaram, who carries the colours of the Aga Khan, in the Polo Smoothies Rated Stakes.
Dalaram was Stoute’s only runner of the day in Britain, and Doyle said: “I don’t get many good rides in the north so it is good to come here and win on a nice horse like him.”
Steve Carson was suspended for one day September 16, for not riding to his draw on Off Beat in the Maxiprint Nursery and apprentice Chris Cavanagh was suspended for three days September 16, 17 and 18 for careless riding on Bishopstone Man in the Wholesale Madness (York) Handicap.
