Inspector General maintained his unbeaten record in style at Salisbury this afternoon when quickening nicely in the muddy conditions to lift the Smith and Williamson Conditions Stakes under Jimmy Fortune.
Paul Cole`s charge had not raced for almost five months since scoring twice in the spring but that did not stop him from showing plenty of toe in the closing stages to comfortably account for Delta Song by a length.
The winner, who is held in fairly high regard at Cole`s Whatcombe HQ, will now head for the valuable #100,000 Tattersalls Autumn Auction Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket on October 13.
Cole`s assistant Steve Hillam said: 'There was only around a couple of hundred horses in the sale where he was bought and the plan was that we could use this race as a springboard to Newmarket for him.
'The only problem now is that he will get a penalty for winning this contest and I only hope that doesn`t stop him winning it.
'Jimmy Fortune said they didn`t really go fast enough for him in the early stages and he should be better with a bit more pace.'
Explaining the reason for the youngster`s lengthy absence from racecourse duty, Hillam added: 'He jarred himself up in May and then had a slight injury so we decided to leave him alone until now.'
Evergreen Fire Dome enjoyed the soft ground to take the Tote Trifecta Rated Stakes (Showcase Handicap) in the hands of Matthew Henry by half a length from Nineacres, after weaving his way into a challenging position inside the final furlong.
The winner is owned and trained by Andrew Reid and his assistant James Unett said: 'This could be Fire Dome`s last outing in Andrew`s colours as he will act as the flagship horse in his new syndicate Be On A Winner and will wear their colours from now on.'
Takaroa, ridden by John Reid, made every yard of the running to collect the EBF Autumn Novice Stakes by a length and three-quarters from Barathiki in the well-known colours of owner Robert Hitchins.
Winning trainer Ian Balding was absent but his son Andrew said: 'We have got around 15 horses for Mr Hitchins who is a great owner and an absolute star to train for.'
Te-deum sprang a 20-1 shock in the Eldridge Pope Handicap for local trainer Jimmy Fox. But those who backed the three-year-old on the Tote had a pleasant surprise as he paid 68-1.
Fox went on to notch his first-ever training double on the Flat when Coughlan`s Gift proved a length and three-quarters too good for Two Socks in the second division of the Axminster 100 Apprentices` Handicap.
