Higher Power wins Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle, Capri takes Irish Derby at The Curragh

Having combined to win the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot with The Tin Man a week ago, trainer James Fanshawe and jockey Tom Queally were at it again as their mount fought off a determined challenge to win from Natural Scenery in second and Flymetothestars in third.

The 20-strong field was reduced by one as the stalls opened as Maleficent Queen was pulled up after just a couple of strides, but it was My Reward who set out in front at first. This was until with well over a mile and a quarter to run, Paul Hanagan aboard Champagne Champ, pushed matters along further clearly wanting to set more of a testing pace.

He was still in front turning for home but there were plenty of challengers in behind, including Fanshawe with Higher Power, who looked to be travelling best of all.

Favourite Flymetothestars briefly looked like going with the winner, but simply could not keep up with the pace as Queally went for the line, with Natural Scenery putting up the best challenge to finish second for Josephine Gordon.

Flymetothestars rallied for third, with Lord George back in fourth, just ahead of My Reward.

Speaking afterwards, a clearly delighted Fanshawe said: “It’s brilliant. It’s fantastic. My sister owns and bred him so it’s great for all the family.
“He’s a classy horse and he stays well. To win this race you have to have a bit of class.

“We were thinking about the Gold Cup but the ground at Ascot was too firm, so we came here as it’s a nice prize to win. We’ve got a great team back at home and I’m really grateful to them.

“We’ll go for black type races now. He’s in the Goodwood Cup but it might just come a bit quick.”

Queally added, “It was a great performance. Honestly, it was like a piece of work. I said the other day that we always thought he could be a horse who was better than being just a handicapper, but that doesn’t automatically mean that you are going to come and win a handicap as competitive as this.

“James trains his horses to peak at this stage of their career and he has done a great job with him.

“Moments like this are important. Just to be hitting these Saturday winners, it makes people take notice, and I hope James and I can reap the rewards.”

Natural Scenery’s jockey Gordon: “She’s done nothing wrong – she broke smartly. In fact, I think we were first out of the stalls.
“We got into a lovely rhythm and travelled nicely throughout.

“Two (furlongs) out I thought we were going to win and I think we hit the front at one point but I’d been worried about using the stick on her. She’s run a really big race off the back of a lay-off.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, Capri won the Irish Derby at the Curragh to give trainer Aidan O’Brien his 12th success in the Group One race.

The grey Galileo colt produced a strong finish to hold off the challenge of John Gosden’s Cracksman, the only British-trained representative in the line-up, favourite Wings of Eagles and French Derby runner-up, to win by a neck in a thrilling finish.

Capri, who was sixth in the Epsom Derby in June, was one of five horses trained by O’Brien among the nine-strong field and victory gave jockey Seamie Heffernan a third Irish Derby victory.