PRIME DEFENDER sprang a 20-1 surprise in the Group 2 Duke of York Blue Square Stakes at York Racecourse.
Ridden by former York-based jockey Robert Winston, the six-year-old landed a first Pattern race success when holding off Showcasing and Main Aim in the six furlong £100,000 sprint.
The Khalid Abdullah-owned pair were bearing down on Winston’s charge, who had hit the front at around the furlong pole, but he drove his mount home by half-a-length for Lambourn trainer Barry Hills.
The Knavesmire win was sweet for Winston, who lived in the Minster city for 12 years, before moving south in search of greater opportunities in the saddle.
He said: “It’s great to land a big one for Barry considering he has given me a lot of support. I have been riding out there twice a week. I have been there the last two seasons now.
“I am lucky to get the ride and get on that horse. I lived in York for 12 years and it is still like a home track even though I am living down south. It’s still nice to ride winners here.”
He added: “I am grateful to Barry for giving me the opportunities. There’s a lot of competition and good jockeys out there. The opposition is stiff.”
It needed a photograph to split Deauville Flyer (18-1), trained by Great Habton’s Tim Easterby, and The Fonz in the Bet at Bluesquare.com SP Guarantee Stakes.
But the verdict went in favour of Easterby, who is in cracking form at the moment, and jockey Kieren Fallon.
Easterby was robbed of a double in the very next race – the Blue Square supporting Marie Curie EBF Novice Stakes – when Cocktail Charlie was nailed close home by Bahceli (15-8), ridden by Ryan Moore.
Elsewhere, Sir Michael Stoute, no stranger to success at the Dante Festival, got his meeting off to the best possible start when Imposing (7-2) won the opening £66 of Free Bets at Bluesquare.com Stakes.
Indian Days, trained by James Given, had led from the off but Imposing, ridden by Ryan Moore, reeled in the leader in the final furlong to win by a length.
And Kaptain Kirkup (6-1) was an easy winner of the York City At Wembley With Blue Square Stakes.
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