Scottish takes centre stage

Scottish Stage put in a workmanlike effort to land the odds in the Listed Swettenham Stud Fillies’ Trial at Newbury.

The subject of a recent gamble for the Oaks, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained three-year-old was sent off a 4-6 chance but was outpaced at halfway and Ryan Moore was at work from a long way out.

Innocent Air cut out the pace but two furlongs from home Makderah moved powerfully into the lead under Richard Hills and looked to be going better than any.

However, Moore galvanised a winning run out of Scottish Stage and just managed to hold the fast-finishing Guilia (33-1) by a head.

Makderah (9-2) finished a further two and a half lengths back in third.

“She’s joined Sir Michael Stoute’s first team even though she was late coming,” said Peter Reynolds, representing Scottish Stage’s owner-breeder Ballymacoll Stud.

“It was a workmanlike performance and I would think she wasn’t enamoured with the ground.

“She needed the run and Ryan didn’t give her a hard race.

“It’s up to Sir Michael what we do next, but she’s a tough little lady who battles on.”

William Hill reacted by pushing the winner out to 7-1 from 6-1 while slashing Guilia’s odds to 10-1 from 66-1. VC Bet left the winner unchanged at 6-1.

Paddy Power also left the winner unchanged at 7-1 but cut Guilia into 16-1 from 100-1.

John Best’s Kingsgate Prince scored a first success on turf in the Listed paddypowerpoker.com Carnarvon Stakes over six furlongs.

Kingsgate Prince (10-1) won four times on the all-weather during the winter and he came with a telling late flourish to collar pace-setters Assertive and Strike Up The Band.