Higher Power dug deep to win the Stobart Rail Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle. Get the result, reaction and free video replay.
1530 Newcastle - Stobart Rail Northumberland Plate
Result:
1st Higher Power 11/2
2nd Natural Scenery 7/1
3rd Flymetothestars 11/4F
4th Lord George 17/2
5th My Reward 28/1
6th Sir Chauvelin 25/1
Click here for the full result and the free video replay
Report:
Higher Power dug deep to win the Stobart Rail Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle and give trainer James Fanshawe and jockey Tom Queally another significant Saturday success.
The pair had combined to win the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot with The Tin Man seven days ago, but at the other end of the scale, Higher Power saw out every yard of the extended two-mile trip to land the Pitmen's Derby.
The 20-strong field was reduced by one as the stalls opened as something was amiss with Maleficent Queen and she was pulled up after just a couple of strides. She was subsequently reported to have banged herself leaving the stalls, without suffering any long-term ill-effects.
My Reward set out in front at first but with well over a mile and a quarter to run, Paul Hanagan pushed on aboard Champagne Champ, clearly wanting to set more of a testing pace.
He was still in front turning for home but there were plenty of challengers in behind, not least Higher Power (11/2), who was travelling best of all for Fanshawe, who previously won the Plate back in 1995 with Bold Gait.
Favourite Flymetothestars briefly looked like going with the winner, but just could not quite ick up the pace as Queally set sail for home, with Natural Scenery putting up the best challenge to finish second for Josephine Gordon.
Flymetothestars rallied for third, with Lord George back in fourth, just ahead of My Reward. Gay Kelleway's Cosmelli was one who caught the eye making late gains just outside of the placings.
Reaction:
James Fanshawe: "It's brilliant. It's fantastic. My sister owns and bred him so it's great for all the family.
"He's a classy horse and he stays well. To win this race you have to have a bit of class.
"We were thinking about the Gold Cup but the ground at Ascot was too firm, so we came here as it's a nice prize to win. We've got a great team back at home and I'm really grateful to them.
"We'll go for black type races now. He's in the Goodwood Cup but it might just come a bit quick."
Tom Queally: "It was a great performance. Honestly, it was like a piece of work. I said the other day that we always thought he could be a horse who was better than being just a handicapper, but that doesn't automatically mean that you are going to come and win a handicap as competitive as this.
"James trains his horses to peak at this stage of their career and he has done a great job with him.
"Moments like this are important. It's a handicap that I've not had on my CV, so it's nice from my point of view.
"Just to be hitting these Saturday winners, it makes people take notice, and I hope James and I can reap the rewards."
Natural Scenery's jockey Josephine Gordon: "She's done nothing wrong - she broke smartly. In fact, I think we were first out of the stalls.
"We got into a lovely rhythm and travelled nicely throughout.
"Two (furlongs) out I thought we were going to win and I think we hit the front at one point but I'd been worried about using the stick on her. She's run a really big race off the back of a lay-off."
Sir Mark Prescott, trainer of Flymetothestars: "He was there with every chance. We'll go to the Ebor now as long as the ground isn't too fast."
