Hayley Turner rode her 1000th career winner on Thursday evening © Photo Healy Racing
Mount Atlas rose above his rivals to take the John Guest Racing Handicap at Ascot for Hayley Turner and Andrew Balding.
Fresh off the back of riding her 1,000th British winner at Yarmouth on Thursday evening, Turner took the ride on the 14-1 shot for the first time in his career.
The mile-and-a-half handicap, worth over £23,000 to the winner, had attracted a field of eight and Mount Atlas was ridden patiently towards the back of the field.
As the race progressed, the featherweight the horse was carrying began to tell and he stayed on best of all to succeed by half a length.
“He’s got a nice light weight, he stays well and he’s got a good attitude. He’s learning and growing and he’s doing it all the right way,” Turner told Sky Sports Racing.
“He’s quite lazy at home, he wouldn’t take your breath away on the gallops, but he does it on the racecourse and that’s the most important thing.”
Balding added: “He’s a horse we’ve always liked, he’s just always been a slow burner.
“Hayley’s done a wonderful job. Hayley’s a star, she works hard and she’s a lovely personality as well.
“She comes into us on a regular basis to ride out, she’s a very positive influence and we’re thrilled she’s got this milestone – hopefully with more to come.”
Balding had another winner on the card as Tactician took a step forward in his career with victory in the John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap.
Beaten only a head at the track over a lesser trip last time out, the grey son of Lope De Vega was the 11-10 favourite under Oisin Murphy when tackling two miles for the first time.
He looked to relish the extended distance and came home three-quarters of a length to the good in a performance that could open up further staying options, such as the Melrose Stakes at York.
“He stays very well and it’s always a help when they like Ascot,” Balding said.
“It (the Melrose) is a possibility, there’s a nice handicap at Haydock as well. The fact that he stays two miles well brings other all-age races into play.
“He’s won off a mark of 86 today, so we’ll not get carried away, but he stays well and that is a help.”
Rod Millman and Saffie Osborne teamed up with Billy Mill to land the Chapel Down Handicap at a price of 12-1.
The six-year-old was well guided through the contest to prevail by a length on the line from Ed Walker’s Amsterdam.
“I didn’t want him to jump as quickly as he did; sometimes when he sees a bit too much daylight, he gets too keen,” Osborne said.
“He settled beautifully and travelled into it really nicely. He’s done it really nicely in the end.”
Miss Fascinator opened her account at the third attempt in the John Guest Racing British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
A promising second on her debut at Newmarket in late June, Roger Varian’s youngster could finish only fifth when a firm favourite for her second start at the July meeting but set the record straight with a near three-length success in Berkshire as a 9-4 market leader under Silvestre de Sousa.
“Perhaps the ground went last time and that’s why she didn’t perform, but it’s good ground out there, she travelled nice behind the leaders and picked up really well,” the jockey said.
“She could go for a nursery. She’s got a lot to improve physically and mentally as well, but that will come in time.
“She’s a nice filly going forward.”
De Sousa enjoyed another victory as Assail took the Slingsby Gin Handicap for David Simcock at 4-1, with Osborne also riding a double as Alcazan struck in the concluding Berenberg October Club Supporting Back Up Fillies’ Handicap for Roger Teal at 12-1.
