Multidimensional blooms at Haydock

Multidimensional overcame tough conditions and a brave opponent to register his first success of the season in the Group Three toteswinger Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

Although a Group Two scorer in France as a three-year-old, he has failed at the highest level in the Champion Stakes and the Coral-Eclipse.

However, he managed to return to winning ways after finishing seventh in the latter race on much quicker going.

The ground was heavy at the Merseyside track after persistent rain resulting in Multidimensional, the 2-1 favourite, drifting towards the stands rail and runner-up Bahia Breeze twice in the closing stages.

However, Henry Cecil’s five-year-old kept on going and shrugged off Bahia Breeze by a length and a quarter. Spanish Moon was four and a half lengths back in third.

“We’re delighted he’s returned to Group-winning form, it’s been a while. He almost did it at Ascot and last time at Sandown it was too firm,” said Alan Cooper, racing manager for owners the Niarchos Family.

“It was almost too heavy today. He couldn’t quite use his acceleration and he got a bit tired in the ground.

“Henry entered him in the Juddmonte at York in 10 days time, but we’ll have to see how he is.

“We’d like to go back up the ladder to Group One company so we will choose our race when the right moment comes.”

Winning rider Ted Durcan added: “It’s very heavy ground. After racing on Thursday and Friday evening, it was hard work on it.

“He’s a proper horse and Mr Cecil has worked very hard on him. His Royal Ascot run was a marvellous effort. It’s great he’s won a race like this.”

Spanish Moon’s rider Ryan Moore was banned for one day (August 23) for careless riding.

Perks (4-1) revelled in the gruelling terrain as he trotted up by six lengths in the totescoop6 Stakes Heritage Handicap.

The bottom weight fairly sluiced through the mud under Jimmy Quinn to take the 10-furlong prize for his owner Benny Andersson of Abba fame.

Drill Sergeant made it a true test and he stuck on stoutly for second place after Perks sailed past him a furlong out. Cheshire Prince was three and a quarter lengths away in third.

“Jimmy was quite confident going out, saying he’d love the ground and he did,” said trainer John Dunlop’s representative ex-jockey Michael Germon.

“He won well at Doncaster on soft ground earlier in the season and this is a nice prize to pick up.”

Quinn added: “I won on him at Doncaster in the spring on soft ground and he’s not had conditions to suit him since.

“I rode him last time and I thought he’d do all right stepped up to a mile and a quarter and he travelled great. He’s a lovely horse and I hope the handicapper doesn’t kill him.”

Favourite Girl (6-1) could go for the Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes at York later this month after winning the Racing UK £12.99 A Month Nursery.

Tim Easterby’s filly had had a luckless run in the Weatherbys Super Sprint on her latest start and made amends with an half-length verdict over Suzie Quw.

“We’d like her to go there, absolutely,” said owner Peter Bourke.

Russ Garritty, the trainer’s representative, added: “She’s very tough and Tim’s always thought a lot about her and she’s fulfilling that promise.”

With the ground in his favour, Zero Tolerance ended a 23-month losing spell to record his third win at the track in the Racing UK Handicap.

Ridden with supreme confidence by 3lb claimer Neil Brown, the 11-4 favourite could be called the winner some way out.

The eight-year-old took the lead a furlong from home and stormed four lengths clear of The Fifth Member with Webbow half a length away in third.

“We used to get him to blast off in front all the time and I think he got sick of it,” said trainer David Barron.

“We’ve been trying to play with his attitude a bit but we were the only ones who went in the ground.

“He’s an old stager now and it’s just great to win a nice race with him again.”

The David Nicholls-trained Valery Borzov (8-1) wore down the pace-setting Bel Cantor to land the coral.co.uk Handicap.

Bel Cantor made a bold attempt to make all the running but had to give way in the final 100 yards as Valery Borzov got up by three-quarters of a length with the favourite Burning Incense back in third.

Winning rider Franny Norton said: “Leaving the visor off helped him. I was always confident of getting to the leader and they went a good gallop.”