Salisbury's Ladies Evening fields a 50-1 winner - and traditional Best Dressed contests
Queen of Time under Jason Watson takes the lead (Photo: Sue Ford) Salisbury Racecourse's hugely popular ‘Ladies Evening’ (July 13) ended with a live music performance by the We Love Little Mix tribute band - after a good card of races.
Queen of Time returned to winning ways as she kept her head in front in the £12,500 feature T&M Glass Fillies’ Handicap. Although she didn’t have the clearest of runs, jockey Jason Watson switched his mount right and stayed on well inside the final furlong for Henry Candy, who is now at the top of Salisbury's 2019 trainer rankings with Andrew Balding.
Fifty-to-one outsider Pyledriver caused an upset his debut in the opening T&M Glass British EBF Novice for Lambourn trainer William Muir. Jockey Martin Dwyer switched his mount to the inside rail and ran on well in the final furlong, beating favourite Great Ambassador by three quarters of a length.
There was a close finish in the six-furlong handicap, however the win went to in-form jockey Tom Marquand and top weight Storm Melody for trainer Ali Stronge, who got up in the last stride to beat Delegate This Lord by a neck.
Ghalyoon led virtually the whole way in the 7-furlong Sovereign Wealth Management Novice Stakes for Jim Crowley in the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum and justified his 8/11 favourite spot for local trainer Marcus Tregoning.
John Best’s consistent 8-year-old Berrahri was a comfortable winner of the four runner 1 mile 6-furlong handicap sponsored by Redbrook Clinic in the hands of Kieren Fox - staying on gamely to beat course and distance winner Master Grey.
Berrahri & Kieren Fox surge ahead (Photo Sue Ford)
Elsewhere on the card Charles Hills repeated success in the 1 mile 4-furlong handicap for a second year running. Last year with Grovesman and this year with Global Falcon under jockey Gerald Mosse - staying on well to win by over a length.
The closing race was won by favourite Hydroplane, who was slow out of the stalls in the hands of Luke Morris. They chased down long-time leader Craneur in the final 2 furlongs to give Sir Mark Prescott his first 2019 win at Salisbury and made the journey from Newmarket worthwhile.
While the racing was going on, judges were wandering through the enclosures and picking out finalists for the Best Dressed Grand Final with categories including Best Dressed Lady, Best Hat, Most Exotic and new for 2019 were Best Dressed Man and Best Dressed Couple. Prizes included a 7-night holiday plus flight vouchers to Portugal, plus thousands of pounds worth of restaurant, clothing and jewellery vouchers.
Ladies' evening: the Best Dressed Grand Final (Photo: Sue Ford)
Salisbury next race on Saturday, July 27 with an evening card sponsored by AJN Steelstock. There will be an after-racing concert from The Best Of Wham! Tickets start from just £8 in advance www.salisburyracecourse.co.uk