Pipalong, the filly that never stops trying, earned handsome reward for her travails when securing victory in the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup at Haydock Park today.
Assisted by championship leader Kevin Darley, the 3-1 chance thwarted Godolphin`s main hope Sampower Star by three-quarters of a length in the #150,000 Group One contest.
A jubilant Darley stood up the in saddle and twirled his whip in triumph as he passed the post.
'She thoroughly deserved that and did everything right today,' said the jockey.
'That`s my first Group One winner of the year and it`s a great feeling. It`s nice to do it on a filly I`ve been associated with all year.'
Pipalong hit the front sooner than ideal and looked in danger as Sampower Star, ridden by Frankie Dettori, came through on the stands` side.
But Sampower Star forfeited ground by drifting across the track towards Pipalong and could not make up the leeway.
Tomba ran well to finish a further one length away in third but his stablemate Lincoln Dancer, the 5-2 favourite, was well back in seventh.
Pipalong was providing her trainer Tim Easterby with his first Group One success but unfortunately he wasn`t there to see it.
He preferred to saddle runners at Thirsk and sent his father Peter to Haydock.
The trainer`s mother Marjorie owns Pipalong in partnership with Tom Bennett.
Easterby senior said: 'I can`t remember how much this filly cost but it wasn`t much. My wife has a half share, so I can`t afford to leave her now!
'Pipalong has had some hard races but she always comes back for more.
'If anything she hit the front a bit too soon today but it`s always hard to come from behind on this sort of ground.'
The recently-retired Lindsay Charnock, who rode Pipalong in her earlier races, joined in the celebrations.
'I just had to back her today. She`s never had ground like this since her first race. I`m delighted that`s she`s done it,' he said.
Pipalong is not finished yet withthe Prix de l`Abbaye at Longchamp a likely target.
Dettori, who made a late switch to Sampower Star when his original mount Lend A Hand was pulled out because of the ground, was disappointed not to have followed up his victory in the race last year aboard Diktat.
'Unfortunately the horses in front of me died. My fellow quickened up well but he had no targets around him and moved across towards Pipalong,' he said.
Lincoln Dancer, the well-supported 5-2 favourite, was never able to mount a serious challenge.
His trainer Michael Jarvis said: 'I`m disappointed but he is an extremely tough horse to train. If we can overcome his physical problems I`m sure he`ll come back.'
Darley was found to be in breach of the rule regarding jockeys riding to their draw. But he escaped a suspension and was merely cautioned by the stewards.
Polar Red shrugged off the burden of 9st 7lb to defeat eight rivals in the stanleyacropolis.com Rated Handicap.
He forged to the front with more than two furlongs to travel and was kept up to his work by Philip Robinson for a one and three-quarter length verdict over Vintage Premium.
Polar Red was underlining the skills of trainer Mick Ryan who makes a habit of wringing plenty of improvement out of his horses.
'He was getting a bit tired today but that`s hardly surprising with a big weight in this ground,' said Ryan`s son John.
'This horse just keeps growing on us and he`s only just started to mature. He was nervous and flighty but has settled down to become a real professional.'
Polar Red is a possible for the Cambridgeshire but Ryan has plenty of other options, including taking the horse abroad.
Jason Weaver rode a canny race to deliver Majestic Bay a winner of the stanleybet.co.uk Old Borough Cup.
He dictated the pace and had all his rivals floundering when quickening the tempo in the straight.
Majestic Bay (25-1) did wander about in the closing stages but had set up enough of an advantage to ensure victory.
The bookmakers were in clover again when Prince Babar obliged at 20-1 in the Stanley Racing Handicap.
Esher Common used his experience to beat some highly-rated juveniles in the Stanley Casinos Maiden Stakes.
Darley completed a double when Spettro made all in the stanleyacropolis.com Conditions Stakes.
