Cover Up collects

Kieren Fallon flew in to partner one of his favourite horses, Cover Up, to a last-gasp victory in the Group Three Hesmonds Stud Sagaro Stakes at Lingfield.

The feature race of the meeting – transferred from Ascot for the second year running – suffered a blow when last term’s winner Alcazar was taken out due to the quickening conditions, leaving just seven starters.

But evergreen nine-year-old Cover Up (4-1), three times a winner at the Royal meeting, produced a barnstorming finish to nail 7-4 favourite Tungsten Strike on the line for a head verdict.

Fallon, who missed his earlier ride when his flight from Ireland was delayed, was delighted to have arrived in time to ride a horse as useful on the track as he is in his capacity as lead horse to many of trainer Sir Michael Stoute’s brightest prospects.

“When it comes down to it, he’s one of the toughest horses in training and definitely one of my favourites,” said Fallon.

Stoute’s representative, Owen Burrows, was in no doubt about the importance of the Fallon factor.

“We were pretty relieved when he made it in time because Kieren knows him better than anybody else and always gets the best out of him,” he said.

“We thought it might have been a bit sharp for him but it was the right time to start him off and it’s paid off.”

Hughie Morrison, frustrated at being forced to bypass Alcazar’s bid for repeat victory, gave the horse a quick spin after racingto keep him ticking over for his next possible engagement in the wbx.com Henry II Stakes at Sandown.

Assertive became the first Guineas candidate to make a successful drop down to sprinting when taking the six-furlong V Drinks Transylvanian Red Vodka Pavilion Stakes.

Every year horses who fail to quite see out the one-mile trip find their forte at lesser distances and Richard Hannon’s charge became the latest to fit the bill.

The 13-8 shot sat behind early leader Clare Hills before striking for home just over a furlong out and holding the challenge of Kingsgate Bay and Strike Up The Band with a little something in hand.

“He’s a good horse and I think six or seven furlongs come as easy as each other to him,” said Hannon.

“He needed his run in the Greenham and he is the sort of horse who, once we get going with him, will keep on running as he takes his races well.

“He might just be a Golden Jubilee-type but we’ll try and find something else first.”

Assertive’s jockey Richard Hughes had already initiated a double when Stronghold enjoyed a clear passage on his way to a straightforward success in the V Drinks Transylvanian Wines Paradise Stakes.

The rider had to stoke his mount up a couple of furlongs out but the 7-2 chance found plenty for pressure and stayed on well down the centre of the course to beat Vortex by a length and a half.

“I imagine the handicap route might be blocked now so we will be looking for a nice Group Three over a mile somewhere – he hasn’t got any exotic entries,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, representing owner Khalid Abdullah.

Gay Kelleway was delighted with the effort of the runner-up, who she reported as being “only 90 per cent”.

“It’s great to see him back and he’ll improve a lot for this,” she said. “There’s a Group Two in Germany we could look at or we could go to Ascot’s first meeting for the Victoria Cup.”

Kelleway and Vortex’s rider Frankie Dettori gained compensation later on the card when the choicely-bred and fast-improving Fajr took the Derek Taylor Birthday Celebration Rose Stakes.

Only three runners went to post for the Auntie Lyne is 80 Today Conditions Stakes, but it still proved an informative contest as Spinning Ruby did what her handicap rating suggested she couldn’t and outpointed favourite Arm Candy.

The Ralph Beckett-trained daughter of Pivotal would probably have preferred a little more cut in the ground but travelled sweetly throughout for Nelson de Souza.

And although Arm Candy was gradually closing in on the winner in the final stages, Spinning Ruby (100-30) had done enough to oblige by half a length.

“I’m not sure if she is quite as good as the Pivotal filly, Penkenna Princess, who we had such a good time with last season, but I think she’s got a future,” said Beckett.

“I thought she would run well and she has done a bit better than her rating suggested she might but there weren’t any fillies’ handicaps so this race fitted the bill.”

Gradetime might be short in stature but she lacks little in heart and the pint-sized filly pulled out more to take the opening race.

Continuing the fine recent form of Mark Wallace’s Newmarket team, the daughter of Danetime looked in trouble when she drifted off the rail on the home turn and allowed favourite Crystal Gazer a clear passage to make her challenge.

But rising to the challenge, the 4-1 chance gave Neil Callan her all and picked up again close home to take the Clematis Conditions Stakes by three-quarters of a length.

Connections will now consider making a quick reappearance at Chester next week in the Lily Agnes Stakes, a five-furlong speed test that should suit the winner down to the ground.

“She’s only little but she’s got a great attitude and that is typical of the way things are going for the stable at the moment,” said Wallace’s representative Brendan Walsh.

“You’d have to think about Chester for her now. She picked up well again when the other one came to her.”