Celandine dug deep to secure a frontrunning victory in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.
Sent off a 13-2 shot for trainer Ed Walker and jockey Tom Marquand, Celandine was reverting to fillies-only company having taken third in the Prix Robert Papin and fourth in the Molecomb Stakes on her two most recent starts.
She broke sharply for Marquand who was happy to bowl along in front and had left a little up his sleeve as Celandine repelled all challengers in the six-furlong contest.
Time For Sandals made a late bid for glory in the final half-furlong, but Celandine just edged victory by a neck with Queen Mary Stakes winner Leovanni a further length and a half back in third and favourite Heavens Gate in fourth.
Celandine returns to winning ways in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes after making all the running under Tom Marquand for trainer Ed Walker! 🏆@TomMarquand | @edwalkerracing pic.twitter.com/lDouMESDYM
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) August 22, 2024
A jubilant Walker said: "I haven't had a buzz like that for a long time, I don’t know why but it really got me.
"I really fancied her at Goodwood when she kind of disappointed, she disappointed in France too and I stupidly took on the colts at Goodwood hunting for fast ground when I was probably over-thinking it a bit too much.
"That was very special, the way she does it, she’s so tough. I think she got a bit lonely at Goodwood, we had to use a lot of gas early over five down that hill, drawn out on a wing whereas today she was in amongst it and surged forward.
"She’s very quick, very tough, very genuine and Tom gets on brilliantly with her. She’s cool."
He added: "She’s properly quick, an out-and-out sprinter. I got my leg pulled for putting her in the Moyglare, but the Lowther will do!
"I guess the Cheveley Park and then the Breeders’ Cup has got to be the plan."
Scenic was in a class of her own as she blitzed the field to claim the British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes as Walker doubled up on the day.
The four-year-old was at ease under the hands of three-time champion jockey Oisin Murphy, slotted in second from last for much of the mile-and-a-half contest on the Knavesmire.
Murphy continued to bide his time on the daughter of Lope De Vega, as he slowly crept up on the field, who were already off the bridle with three furlongs remaining.
Scenic joined Karmology, who took up the favouritism tag after the leading duo of Simon and Ed Crisford's Fairy Glen and the William Haggas-trained Sea Just In Time were declared non-runners in the morning, at the front at the two-furlong pole as they jostled for supremacy.
However, she showed a tremendous turn of foot in the closing stages to streak clear of Karl Burke’s charge to complete a three-and-three-quarter-length success at the price of 8-1.
Walker said: "It took us 10 races to win one with her eventually, but there were always excuses as to why it wasn’t happening.
"She stays very well and the race panned out perfectly for her today, Oisin gave her a peach of a ride and I think she just outstayed them really.
"Last time over further she probably should have won but got to the front too early, she took Saffie (Osborne) there too soon and just pricked her ears. She was beaten in a novice making the running, she doesn’t do a lot in front.
"It’s fantastic for David and Sue Ward who are big supporters and obviously had Starman with us. It’s a really big result.
"Oisin rode her in this last year and was pretty cross with himself so he kept it really smooth today.
"We’ll think of the Park Hill but we might have a look at the Prix Royallieu as she probably won’t stay in training next year, David and Sue like to breed."
