Calling The Wind clung on to foil a late gamble on Golden Rules in the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
The 14-1 winner had just enough in reserve to repel Oisin Murphy's mount, whose odds halved in the big race build-up. A regular in quality long distance events, Calling The Wind was running 11 days after finishing second at Royal Ascot for trainer Richard Hughes.
Golden Rules, the 9-2 joint favourite, had to settle for that position this time, half-a-length in arrears, with Aztec Empire (22-1) back in third.
“He’s a handy little horse and it’s a great win," said jockey Neil Callan. "He gave me a beautiful ride and it’s typical the rider Richard was because he’s class and gave me no instructions."
Nathaneal Greene, sharer of the top market position, made late headway for fourth, but William Haggas' original ante-post favourite Post Impressionist failed to figure.
Matrika shot to the head of next season's 1,000 Guineas betting after justifying short odds at the Curragh. Aidan O'Brien's filly, 8-1 with several firms, backed up a quality recent Ascot effort under Ryan Moore.
The Ballydoyle trainer, who sends red-hot favourite Auguste Rodin to today's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, is in no rush to test her stamina.
"She doesn’t blow at all, it takes nothing out of her – she’s very natural," he said after the convincing Airlie Stud Stakes victory.
"We’ll stay at six (furlongs) for a while."
Frankie Dettori's suspension has opened the door for Will Buick on leading Coral Eclipse fancy Emily Upjohn.
The Classic-winning rider got a feel for the sponsor's 10-11 shot in a Newmarket racecourse gallop this morning. Dettori's excellent final season is on pause for Saturday's Sandown blockbuster, after he lost his appeal to get a nine-day careless riding ban overturned.
