There was a dead-heat in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden over seven furlongs, with Hott Shott and Spell Master flashing past the post in unison.
Both horses had the benefit of racecourse experience, with the Richard Hughes-trained Hott Shott (5/1) having finished third on debut at Kempton in May, while Andrew Balding’s Spell Master (4/1) was unplaced at Newbury before taking second at Epsom Downs last month.
Sharing the victory would have been some relief to Balding, who saddled five seconds at this week’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, including three on the final afternoon.
Hughes said: “It wasn’t easy to watch. I thought Hott Shott was beat. He stuck his head out and, a stride after the line, he was a neck in front.
“I was trying to make him into a Chesham horse but, when he walked into the paddock at Kempton, I truly believed that I had gone a month too soon. He looked a bit tall and there was a lot of daylight under him, so we’ve given him loads of time since and this has been his target for a long time.
“He is one of my best but that doesn’t mean much. We don’t have that many. He’s been a very nice horse from the start and he’s got a great attitude. He loves fast ground.”
Balding said: “I am relieved Spell Master didn’t come second like the others! He is a grand horse, who’s improving with every run and should keep progressing. Kamekos are very similar – they seem to thrive on their racing and try very hard.”
Oisin Murphy said of Spell Master: “I felt I may have hung on but I’m not great at judging those photo finishes. I’m normally concentrating on just getting to the line first.
“I actually rode Hott Shott on Tuesday morning, so I’m delighted for Richard. He pinpointed this race a while ago and, as I couldn’t ride him, it was nice that we both got a good result.”
Paradias produced a decisive change of gear to pass several rivals and take the Coral We’re Here For It Handicap.
The burden of top-weight could not stop the Alan King-trained five-year-old, who provided jockey Rossa Ryan with a third winner of the week and a quick-fire double following his dead-heat victory on Hott Shott.
Ryan said: “Paradias deserved that. It took a fair effort to do that with 10st 2lb, especially with him being slowly away. His form at Epsom was solid and that was his first run of the year. I suppose if he hadn’t run in the John Smith’s Cup, when the ground went against him, he’d have been bang up in the market.
“He’s a good, honest character and it’s good to see him win. He’s always been a bit on the keen side, but now he’s getting older, he seems to be calming down and realising how things are a lot easier like that. He might go from strength to strength, and later on in life he might get a mile and a half.”
On Hott Shott, he said: “Lovely horse, great attitude. The two horses that towed us along, they had two runs under their belts. My lad probably didn’t know how to drop down and gallop fully. He is learning all the time. I liked the way he kept responding to everything I threw at him.”
Witness Stand made a mockery of his 40/1 starting price when running out an easy winner of the Whispering Angel Handicap over seven furlongs.
Last of 13 at Chester on his latest start, Witness Stand was fitted with first-time cheekpieces by trainer Tom Clover and they certainly did him no harm as he quickened clear to beat Piz Nair by three lengths.
Clover said: “Witness Stand has been second in three of his last five starts coming into here, so he’s run some very good races behind good horses, and it all worked for him today.
“He wasn’t right that day at Chester [15 June] – there were a few Newmarket horses in and out of form, and he was clearly better than that run. He worked well last week and I thought he was a big price today.”
Winning jockey Kieran Shoemark said: “I think everything just went quite smoothly. Witness Stand went down really relaxed, although he can have his moments in the stalls. He had Jake Launchbury down there – he works alongside Craig Witheford, and they seem to manage him very well and he was very relaxed.
“He was electric from the gates, so everything went to plan and we were able to get a lovely lead from Clifford Lee. I was able to commit when I felt it was right. I was pleased throughout and quietly confident. He is a talented animal. He possibly wants a mile – it wasn’t as though I needed the line at all today, and I thought he went hard enough, so he’ll stay a mile in the future.”