Newmarket double puts Hughes within four points of Hanagan
Richard Hughes closed the gap on leading jockey Paul Hanagan to just four today as Sweet Cecily's success in the EBF Bosra Sham Fillies' Stakes kick-started a Newmarket double for the rider.
Hughes pounced late in the six-furlong Listed feature to win by half a length from Question Times, with Sharnberry back in third.
The daughter of Kodiac has been knocking on the door in similar races but was put in her place by Hooray in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes last time out.
Eased in grade, Hughes always had her in close proximity to the long-time leader Fifth Commandment before unleashing his mount in the closing stages.
She hit the front inside the final 100 yards and held the late thrust of Question Times by half a length.
Richard Hannon jnr, assistant to his father Richard, said: "She deserved that as she has been placed in several black type races.
"She handled the track a lot better than she did in the Cheveley Park and next spring will make a nice filly for either the Fred Darling or the Nell Gwyn - something like that."
Owner Julie Wood was on hand to see her 25th winner of the year as Sweet Cecily returned at odds of 5-1.
"Sweet Cecily was bought as a foal for 3,000euros - she was a good buy," said Wood.
"She was by a first-season sire - I like those - and was a nice type of foal with a nice pedigree."
Hughes completed his brace in the concluding Norfolk Racing Club M D Thompson Electrical Handicap as 100-30 shot Hawridge Star stayed on best to take top honours.
Jeremy Noseda's Western Aristocrat is one to put in the notebook after making a hugely impressive victory in division two of the Christine Kilker Memorial EBF Maiden Stakes.
The American-bred juvenile was sent off the 3-1 favourite in the hands of Ryan Moore and did not let his supporters down as he stretched right away at the finish to score by three and three-quarter lengths.
Dogs May Bark (16-1) took division one for Peter Chapple-Hyam, while promising apprentice John Fahy gave further evidence that he is a jockey with a big future when guiding 80-1 shot My Delirium to a shock win in the Ukunpublished.co.uk EBF Maiden.
Inpursuitoffreedom supplemented a recent Yarmouth victory with success in the Betfair Apprentice Training Series Final in the hands of Julie Burke.
The 3-1 favourite made light of a 6lb penalty as she ran on strongly at the death to deny Tilsworth Glenboy by a cosy three-quarters of a length.
John Dunlop enjoyed a welcome return to form as Zahoo led home his better fancied stablemate Calatrava Cape in the EBF Newmarket Racecourses Thanks John Taylor Fillies' Handicap.
The field was strung out heading inside the final furlong as the soft ground and testing head wind took its toll.
Calatrava Cape held the advantage but 15-2 shot Zahoo stayed on best under Tadhg O'Shea to claim a length-and-a-half victory.
