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Zigazig Ah a Super hit

Three horses crossed the line together in the Weatherbys Super Sprint leading to a lengthy and nervous wait for connections to find out who would collect the £143,009 first prize.

As the announcement came over the tannoy and with the camera focused on Zigazig Ah (17/2), her jockey Saffie Osborne let out a roar of delight as number 24 was announced the winner with Osborne then giving her filly a well deserved pat down the neck.

The once-raced Angels Lane, ridden by Laura Pearson, was second with Final Appeal, in the firing line throughout, third and Etienne, 7/2 favourite and a stablemate of the winner, fourth.

The winning distances were a nose, a short-head and half-a-length.

The understandably delighted Osborne told ITV Racing: "I'm really shocked to be honest, normally I have some sort of idea about which way it went but I genuinely had no idea which way that went.

"What a cool horse! For a filly that's only run twice before today she's so straightforward and Richard [Spencer, trainer] had her in unbelievable form - she was absolutely bouncing going out - and I'm delighted for their whole team."

Owner Phil Cunningham, who loves 'naming his horses after songs', added: "We were waiting for the result and getting excited but what an adrenaline rush, absolutely amazing.

"I said to Saffie earlier the one thing about her was there was no negatives, she had no weight, I knew she'd like the ground, she was fine over the trip. By the end of the year the other horse will be the better horse, please don't forget him, see the ground he makes up; both by Rajasinghe.

"We do this for these type of days and I can't thank him [Spencer] enough and all the team. It's magnificent."

It was 30 years ago this week that the Spice Girls hit Wannabe (that contains the lyrics Zigazig Ah) was released and there was an omen for connections of the winner as Cunningham's wife went to the hairdressers on Thursday and was followed in by Spice Girl Mel C.

Spencer revealed this was a long-term plan and that he believes beaten favourite Etienne has a bright future, saying: "We had the race planned out for a long time, hence we sent Saffie to ride her on her debut at Yarmouth because I knew she was going to have a light weight so it's all worked out well.

"The colt is very good, he just lacked the experience and I've said all week the ground could be on the quick side for him. I've not spoken to Dave [Egan] properly about it yet but he'll be ending up at the end of the year in some very nice races.

"I'm very lucky to be in the position I'm in with Phil and the family supporting the yard and the venture that was started 11 years ago but it's not a completely closed shop."

Symbol of success

Symbol Of Honour (7/2) was a decisive winner of the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes for Charlie Appleby, William Buick and Godolphin.

Settled in a share of third after jumping well as Song Of The Clyde and Noble Champion cut out the early gallop in the Group 3, Buick pulled Symbol Of Honour out to challenge towards the centre of the track and eased to the front as the leaders fell away (eventually crossing the line in the last two places).

Soldier's Tree battled on gamely while the slow starting Mitbaahy rattled home from the rear to fill second place but the winning margin of a length and a quarter in the six furlong contest underlined Symbol Of Honour's superiority.

Buick said: "He had quite a busy season last year and it all came thick and fast but he was successful.

"When he ran at Newcastle the last day Charlie and the team were just building him up so he really came on for that run and he showed that today. He's a good horse on his day, fast ground and a flat track are really what he wants.

"It [the pace] was comfortable for everyone I think. We were in a close enough group, I don't think it was overly fast, it was a good pace and we were just tracking in right behind it."

Symbol Of Honour has now won six of his 16 starts with this success his first since landing the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May 2025.

Persica's consistency bears fruit

Persica ran out a ready winner of the Listed BetVictor Steventon Stakes as the even money favourite.

Richard Hannon's stalwart has been running well this year without getting his head in front but Persica, a Group 3 winner last season, made the most of the opportunity.

Arabian Light spoiled his chance by breaking slowly but the five strong field were covered by around four lengths at halfway with eventual second Oceans Four and Al Zanati in the front rank.

Sean Levey pulled Persica out to begin his challenge approaching the two furlong pole and it wasn't long until the two were in front. Arabian Light made ground from last while Oceans Four rallied but neither were able to lay down a significant challenge as Persica ran out a three-quarters of a length winner.

Levey said: "I thought we were going to go nice and slow and we ended up going a little bit harder early doors and he wasn't really enjoying the ground so I left him alone. He came into it nicely; Rossa [Ryan] was keen on the other horse [Midak] and when he came by me, he got me going earlier than I'd have liked to and I ended up arriving there earlier than I'd have liked to but he's got his head in front and that's the important thing.

"He's extremely genuine. He puts himself out there every single time he runs. He's been unlucky on a few occasions; getting beat at Epsom just because we ended up riding on the other side of the track and he ran well at Sandown last time but he had to give away a lot of weight.

"This is not the best renewal of this race and he's come here in good form and being consistent; he's deserved to win today."

Hannon added: "He's a very good horse, he doesn't need soft ground. For me, he thought he'd done enough and idled. It's nice to get his head in front because he's a very good horse and he will win more races.

"He's a pleasure to have and a pleasure for Martin [Hughes, joint-owner] and nice to see Martin smiling today!"

Rest of the action

There was a thrilling finish to the Pertemps Network Handicap with Shrimp Shady (13/2) edging out Team Player by the minimum margin of a nose at the end of the extended two miles.

Having raced in midfield behind Almuhit and 13/8 favourite Ride The Thunder, Shrimp Shady hit the front inside the final furlong and found enough to prevail having appeared to have been headed close home by Team Player.

Ride The Thunder was third with Duraji coming from last to finish a never nearer fourth.

Winning rider Rob Hornby said: "I thought I was beat to be honest but I've had one of those runs where I've been on the wrong side of some photo finishes.

"He was great today. He ran a nice race up at Newcastle and travelled supremely well today; he's got plenty of stamina as well and has almost travelled too well, I got to the front plenty soon enough and I had a really willing partner.

"He's been ultra-progressive and it's great for the owners, the Pendarves, who bred him and who knows what he's still capable of."

Trainer Andrew Balding added: "He's a bit of a yard favourite. He won the Chester Cup consolation race and ran very well in the Northumberland Plate consolation as well.

"Rob still comes and rides out on a regular basis and we try and give him as many rides as we can and he never lets us down."

Balding completed a double in the closing British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap as All Moonshine (11/4) showed a good turn of foot to put her rivals to the sword under Jason Watson.

Balding is now likely to hunt for black type with the winner, telling Sky Sports Racing: "Very quiet day, we only had two runners but they both won so that's great.

"We obviously went into a very deep race at Ascot, didn't have the best of luck with the draw and felt she'd probably be better dropped back to seven on the grass and proved that way today. She's very tough and talented and I hope that's not the last of her wins.

"There's a nice fillies' handicap at York for her but I'll have to talk to her owner who I'm sure will be hoping that we can get some black type along the line but I'd hope that would be the case."

Miss Scott (5/6 favourite) made the most of a 7 lb turn in the weights to reverse last month's course form with Manaar, winning the Darley EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes by a length and three quarters to complete a double for Buick, riding on this occasion for John and Thady Gosden.

The winning rider said: "It was nice, she's still learning, she just kind of looked when she hit the front.

"She was only beaten narrowly by Manaar last time so you'd think the 7 lb would make a difference. Nice filly and I think she'll improve."

Last year's renewal was won by Consent who went on to win a Group 1 and Buick believes pattern races will be on the agenda for Miss Scott.

"She's a beautifully bred filly who cost a good bit of money and that would be the main objective I would imagine, exactly where in the short term I'm not sure but she's definitely heading that way and she's got a very good pedigree so that's all important," he added.

Clive Cox has won the Back The Super Boost At BetVictor EBF Novice Stakes with Royal Scimitar and James's Delight in recent years and Satellite Of Love (6/1) looked a youngster with a bright future in getting the better of a sustained duel with Agrippa.

The two had the race between them throughout and it was the penalised winner who proved strongest in the finish, winning by a neck under Georgia Dobie with the pair three lengths clear of the remainder.

Cox reflected: "It was a little bit softer when James's Delight won it. Song Of The Clyde was second in it last year and went on to better things.

"He's a really nice colt, he's done well at Windsor first time and very difficult with a penalty so could be no more than thrilled with that effort. Georgia has done a really good job, first time and here today; she does a lot of work at home for us and I'm really pleased that she can come and ride a nice winner on a Saturday.

"He's well entered for the sales races, he's in the Harry's Half Million and I see no reason why he wouldn't follow a similar plan."

Dobie added: "He pricked his ears coming towards the line and I think there's still a little bit to come. He's a bonny thing, tries hard and put the race to bed nicely and I think he'll be a nice horse. His work at home is very good and he's shown he's got a good turn of foot."

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