Santolina enjoyed a dream run up the fence to swoop for success in the City Index Sirenia Stakes at Kempton today and initiate an scross-the-card treble for in-form trainer John Gosden.
The filly, ridden by Jimmy Fortune, landed the Listed contest by a length and three quarters and three-quarters of a length from Proceed With Care and unlucky-in-running Triple Blue.
But the 9-2 chance will not take up her engagement in the Firth Of Clyde Stakes at Ayr later this month and is now expected to run in Group company next time.
Part-owner Hugo Lascelles explained: 'The original plan was to go to Ayr but I`m glad we decided to come here and take on the colts.
'We were worried about the draw and Jimmy`s instructions were to get a position in behind them.
'I think we`ll stick to six furlongs at the moment. We`ll give the Firth Of Clyde a miss and up her in standard.'
Gosden and Fortune completed a double at the course when warm favourite Border Comet was forced to play second fiddle to Hill Country in the City Index Maiden Stakes.
Gosden was also on the mark in the afternoon at York with Sharp Stepper.
Hill Country, a half-brother to the Vodafone Derby winner Dr Devious, had obviously learned much from his debut effort when he was six places behind Border Comet in tenth at Ascot in late July.
Gosden`s assistant George Foster remarked: 'He fell out of the stalls and didn`t know what it was all about.
'It was a shame, but he`s worked very nicely of late. That said, we came here hopeful rather than confident.'
Ulundi earned a tilt at the mile-and-a-half Ritz Club Stakes at Ascot`s Festival meeting later this month when he overturned odds-on favourite Riyafa under a typically cool ride from Richard Hughes in the City Index `24 Hour Financial Trading` Handicap.
The five-year-old has developed into a useful dual-purpose horse for trainer Lady Herries and owner David Heath, the latter being very keen to point him at the big two-mile handicaps over hurdles next winter.
After Hughes had toyed with Riyafa before easing his mount to a three-quarters of a length success, Lady Herries` assistant Maxine Cowdery said: 'David`s very keen to run him at Ascot and he also fancies a tilt at the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury, though I don`t know how keen Lady Anne would be on that idea.'
Palace Affair, with whom trainer Toby Balding has experienced all manner of temperament problems since her encouraging debut run at Windsor last month, came good in style as she made all in the City Index `Channel 4-Page 609` EBF Maiden Fillies` Stakes at Kempton today.
Allowed to go off a 20-1 shot in first-time blinkers, Palace Affair made all under Stephen Carson and scored by three and a half lengths from Ghazal.
Explaining the problems connections had experienced with the winner, Balding`s son-in-law and assistant Jonathan Geake said: 'We`ve had terrible behaviouralproblems with her and she`s failed a stalls test.
'The whole objective was to get her settled, loaded into the stalls and running. We didn`t want to wind her up too much because she`s got a future ahead of her.'
Floating Charge set the champagne corks popping as he landed the City Index 4 Over 7 Series Handicap on owner Stephen Swayden`s 50th birthday.
Oscar Urbina bided his time on James Fanshawe`s 8-1 shot, waiting for a split which, when presenting itself over a furlong out, the combination readily took before going on to hold Hill Magic and 5-1 favourite Daryabad by half a length and a head.
Floating Charge is a better horse when the mud is flying and recent rain in the Sunbury area undoubtedly aided his cause. Fanshawe explained: 'He went very flat after running here at the beginning of May but has come right back to himself.
'Stephen`s wife organised this party months ago and i`ve trained the horse specifically for the race. Stephen didn`t know anything about it until he walked into the box and was greeted by fifty of his friends.
'I do hope we get a wet autumn, because this horse is far happier with some cut in the ground.'
