Johnson-Wylie team go flat out

Trainer Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie set the jumps world alight last season and they switched codes to great effect when Masta Plasta landed the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot at York today.

The juvenile displayed brilliant speed to run his rivals ragged and give the North its first winner at the meeting.

It was a great result for the Johnson-Wylie team, who landed a Cheltenham Festival hat-trick in March through Inglis Drever, No Refuge and Arcalis and have a host of other jumps stars at their County Durham base.

Robert Winston had no hesitation in sending Masta Plasta straight into the lead at a furious pace and he had most of his opponents struggling at halfway in the five-furlong Group Three contest.

Strike Up The Band, the heavily-backed 7-4 favourite, threw down a late challenge but Masta Plasta had two lengths to spare at the line, with Classic Encounter another three-quarters back in third.

Johnson was opening his Royal Ascot account, having just missed out on Tuesday when Pacific Pride was second in the Coventry Stakes in Wylie’s colours.

Masta Plasta is owned by Transcend Bloodstock, a company set up by the trainer and owner.

“He’s quick, but he’s not as quick as the other one,” said Johnson. “He stays six furlongs well and he’s an honest little devil.

“He could be a Gimcrack horse, or Pacific Pride could be. And we’ve got another two or three nearly as good.”

Masta Plasta had overcome a sickness scare before being given the go-ahead to run.

“He’s been coughing all week, but he didn’t cough yesterday and he didn’t cough this morning and I took a chance running him,” revealed Johnson.

“All the staff were pleading with me to get him scoped, but I don’t believe in scoping. So long as they are fit and healthy, what more do you want?”

However, Winston had been concerned on the way to post.

He said: “He’s a very tough horse but I was a little bit worried because he coughed twice going down.

“He has bags of speed and he keeps galloping. He’s got the right attitude for the job.”

Wylie added: “The first time at Royal Ascot at York and we get a winner - it’s brilliant.”

A sluggish start did not help Strike Up The Band, who would have been a popular local success as he is trained a few miles up the road by David Nicholls.

He said: “I think he’d have won if he’d have been quicker out of the gate, but the family are all like that.

“You’ve got to take your hat off to the winner and it’s great for the North to have a one-two in a big race like this.

“I just wish Howard had stuck to training jumpers!”