Forever Takes Redcar Feature

De Sousa - won feature.

Ladies Are Forever, the filly no-one wanted, justified the confidence of trainer Geoff Oldroyd and owner/breeder Reg Bond with a decisive success under Silvestre de Sousa in the £150,000 totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar.

De Sousa sent her to the front just inside the final quarter-mile of the six-furlong test and kept her going in good style, despite her tendency to hang left, to hold the challenge of Codemaster by one and a quarter lengths.

Punters were also keen on her chance as she started 3-1 favourite on the strength of her run when third in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, despite not having been seen since.

Former jockey Oldroyd, who has held a training licence since 1983, was gaining his biggest success.

He said: "When I saw the declarations I was never worried about her chance, being a filly like her off a mark of only 7st 12lb.

"I have never sat on her, but I have been in racing for 49 years and there is no doubt that she would be the best I ever sat on if I did get on her."

Not surprisingly, thoughts are already turning to a possible Classic tilt next year and Oldroyd went on: "She was always going to be a better three-year-old and though at the moment I am not sure if she will stay a mile, we will have to look at the 1000 Guineas.

"It is fantastic for a small stud which has been going for only five years to have a success like this and to have a stallion like Monsieur Bond."

Bond added: "We couldn't even get her in the sales but that has been a blessing in disguise. She got an injury at Royal Ascot and was in her box for eight weeks, so it was touch and go to get her ready for this race.

"But Silvestre came up to Geoff's and sat on her and said he was happy, and Geoff said on Wednesday that he had her spot on so it was all systems go.

"We will have to see if she will get a mile, but we will have to think about the Guineas - Monsieur Bond finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas, and of course he was third in today's race the year before."

De Sousa was winning the race for the second time, having scored on Danum Dancer four years ago, and after gaining his biggest success in terms of prize money, he said: "She did it very well and Geoff has done a great job with her - it is nice to win this race again."

Oldroyd and Bond had hardly had time to take a celebratory drink than they were back in the winner's enclosure to greet Lady Gar Gar and De Sousa following the second division of the European Breeders' Fund Maiden Stakes.

It was a closer call this time with Lady Gar Gar having only a neck to spare over Bernisdale, but enough was a feast for Oldroyd, who went on: "Reg also owns and bred this one and she is also by Monsieur Bond so it has been a bit of a day.

"I think Lady Gar Gar is another filly who will improve as a three-year-old and I think she will get a mile.

"When Paul Mulrennan rode her earlier in the season he said she would be a different filly when she got a bit of cut in the ground and he was absolutely right."

Paul Hanagan left no doubt about his determination to hold on to his lead in the jockeys' championship as he bagged a timely double, initiated when getting the Michael Dods-trained Kiwi Bay home in front in the John Smith's Redcar Straight-Mile Championship.

Hanagan was seen as his strongest as he rousted the gallant top weight to collar Charlie Cool well inside the final furlong and score by half a length.

Dods was at Newmarket but his representative Steve Alderson said of the 5-1 joint-favourite: "He stayed on well, the second gave him a nice lead and he has done it well, even though the ground was a bit tacky for him.

"Tom (Eaves) had to ride for Bryan Smart so we"

Hanagan made it two when stable favourite Harrison George landed the Listed Guisborough Stakes in the gamest fashion.

Trained by Richard Fahey, the 7-1 chance was sent to the front about a furlong out and stuck to his task really well to hold the determined challenge of Eton Rifles by a length.

Fahey's assistant Robin O'Ryan said: "He is such a game horse, he keeps winning and improving and he does like to get his toe in.

"He is a star and it is great to have a horse like him in the yard."

Godolphin pair Kingsfort and Skysurfers disappointed.

Zoowraa defied a market drift to win like a good thing in the first division of the European Breeders' Fund Maiden Stakes.

The Michael Jarvis-trained filly (9-2) was making her racecourse debut and was given a perfect introduction by Neil Callan, who had her travelling sweetly behind the leaders until asking for an effort approaching the final quarter-mile.

Her response was immediate and she quickened in good style to take up the running about a furlong and a half out, striding clear to pass the post with five lengths to spare over the luckless 15-8 favourite Calypso Magic.

Callan was pleased with the performance and said: "We don't know what she beat, but she will improve from this.

"She is still a bit green and the ground was a bit tacky so it was a good performance and her sire Azamour is doing well with his progeny."

Neville Bycroft's Jolly Roger won the seller in the hands of apprentice Barry McHugh, but left for new pastures having been bought for £8,000 by Bridgend trainer John Flint at the ensuing auction.

Mayoman, with David Nolan on board, put up a good performance under top weight in the Win A Vip Day Out At redcarracing.co.uk Handicap, after which trainer Declan Carroll said: "He came to me rated 54 and he was off 75 today and it is his sixth win for us. I thought he was impressive."

There was a thrilling finish to the concluding Follow Redcar Racing On Facebook Handicap as apprentice Shane B Kelly forced the John Quinn-trained Leslingtaylor's head in front close home to take the £2,914 first prize.