Rossa Ryan gained a deserved victory on Daiquiri Bay (10/1) in a tight finish with two Wathnan Racing-owned horses in a thrilling Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York.
The £500,000 handicap went the way of Ryan, who was chinned by Kalpana aboard Sparan Nua in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks, to go some way to making amends for that agonising defeat.
Here the boot was on the other foot, as Ryan just lasted home on Alan King’s four-year-old with Hopewell Rock (13/2) and Opportunity (14/1) breathing down his neck. Hopewell Rock was particularly unfortunate, Callum Rodriguez dropping his whip in the closing stages with several uses still up his sleeve, Daiquiri Bay all out to win by a head from him with Opportunity just a further neck back in third.
Ascending (28/1) was fourth, Beylerbeyi (20/1) was fifth, Stressfree (50/1) was sixth and long-time leader Burdett Road (80/1) held on for seventh, with the sponsors paying seven places on each-way bets.
Irish gambles Love Me Tender (7/2 favourite), trained by Willie Mullins and Emit (4/1), trained by Joseph O’Brien, were down the field in 10th and 12th, respectively.
It was a third win of the season for Daiquiri Bay from three starts, the son of New Bay three from three since being gelded in the winter, this victory coming off the back of a win in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.
King said: “I can’t believe it really. He’s a tough horse, and it was a great ride from Rossa [Ryan]. I’m blown away.
“He’ll make a nice hurdler wont he! I won’t suggest that to the owners yesterday!
“It’s been the plan since Ascot. He had a tough race there, broke the track record, and the rain came. It’s a very special day.”
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