© Photo Healy Racing
“One in a million” was how Laura Pearson described her star mount Sparks Fly after she scorched to victory in the inaugural Robin Hood Stakes at Nottingham on Wednesday.
Previously run at Newmarket as the Ben Marshall Stakes, the one-mile Listed event was taking place at Colwick Park for the first time and attracted a classy field which included David Loughnane’s popular four-year-old, who was an 8-1 chance.
Sent immediately to the head of proceedings by Pearson, that was where Sparks Fly would stay as the brave decision to go for home up the far rail paid dividends, coming home a comfortably by four-and-a-half-lengths ahead of Ralph Beckett’s 15-8 favourite Qirat in second.
It was not only the 10th victory of Sparks Fly’s career but the first time the filly has tasted Listed success in Britain, with the triumph proving a welcome tonic for her loyal jockey at the end of a testing season.
Pearson said: “This means everything and I almost got a bit choked up coming in then as it’s not been the best of years and to have a trainer like Dave and an owner like Mr (David) Lowe who keep putting me up and supporting me is what the sport’s all about.
“She is an absolute star and I have to thank the team at home and the owner Mr Lowe, they deserve that very much.
“There’s no point fighting her and every track we go to we do the same thing, it’s easy to tell what we will do. She’s a proper woman, you just have to let her do what she wants to do.
“We’ve obviously won two Listed races in France, but it’s nice to get the monkey off our back over here and prove we’re good enough to be here in the UK. She’s done that very easily.
“She’s one in a million. She has kept my spirits up and to have her around to look forward to and to keep my confidence up has been great.”
Andrew Balding’s Falconer looked a smart prospect when edging out Beckett’s 8-11 favourite El Matador in the EBF Stallions Golden Horn Maiden Stakes.
Although sent off 12-1, the Denford Stud owned son of New Bay travelled stylishly into contention before knuckling down well at the business end for his jockey Callum Hutchinson.
He adds his name to a roll of honour that includes the likes of Adayar and of course fellow Derby hero Golden Horn who began his career in this race 10 years ago.
“He’s really showed his best foot there and he’s been a bit of a quirky horse at home,” said Hutchinson. “The penny has dropped two furlongs out and he’s flown home and seen it out well.
“Early on in the race it took him a while to find his feet and it wasn’t until the bend he really travelled with me. Once we turned in I thought we best make a move not if we’re to have a shout and to be fair once I’ve changed my reins and got hold of him, he’s picked up really well.
“He’s definitely going to be one to train on, he’s a big scopey horse and it will be interesting to see what he does next year.”
Although suffering frustration earlier on the card, Beckett finally got on the scoresheet when 13-8 favourite Games People Play shed her maiden tag back up in trip in the Come Racing 6th November Handicap.
