Richard Hughes’ Calling The Wind (14/1) gained a well-deserved staying handicap prize as he battled on well to land this afternoon’s Northumberland Plate.
The Richard Hughes-trained seven-year-old continued to run well in staying handicaps in recent starts and fully deserved to land a big prize on the back of an excellent second-place finish in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
Jockey Neil Callan kept the winner towards the middle of the pack throughout much of the race, in what looked a slowly run affair. Callan turned for home down the stand side but quickly switched to the middle of the track before asking his mount for more. The pair hit the front a furlong out and fought on strongly to deny the challenge of the well-fancied 9/2 joint-favourite Golden Rules to win at 14/1.
The winning margin was half a length with Andrew Balding's Aztec Empire (22/1) finishing a further length and a quarter behind to take home the bronze medal. The well-supported Nathanael Greene (9/2 JF) finished fourth for trainer William Haggas and jockey Andrea Atzeni.
Neil Callan, when speaking to ITV Racing, was full of praise for the trainer saying "It's a testament to Richard Hughes and his staff". He added the horse was "Ultimate class" today and was very much deserving of the win.
La Hacienda gives Ireland Vase victory
The Northumberland Vase (2m½f) was won by the Irish challenger La Hacienda (11/1) for trainer Matthew J Smith. Jockey Harry Davies positioned his mount to challenge turning for home and asked for an effort two furlongs out. La Hacienda responded well, reaching the front, and maintaining her lead all the way to the line outstaying her rivals to win by half a length from the 5/1 Mostly Sunny; with 12/1 chance Faylaq a further half-length back in third.
The 3/1 market leader Blow Your Horn finished back in eighth.
Speaking to ITV Racing after the race, Jockey Harry Davies was full of praise for the filly saying he "was sure she would keep going" utilising her stamina up the run-in.
Praising the toughness of his mount he added: "When the other horse came to me, I always knew she would do enough".
