Atabaas Pride takes victory in Newcastle

Mark Johnston struck with his only runner of the afternoon when Atabaas Pride gained a well-deserved first success in the EBC Classic Excel Maiden Stakes at Newcastle.

The Pivotal two-year-old, who had found just one too good for him on his last three outings, was ridden to lead at the two-furlong marker and Greg Fairley kept him right up to his work to score by two and a half lengths from Andaman Sunset.