Tyrrhenian Sea has been a fixture of the all-weather scene for five years now and showed at the age of eight the fire still burns bright when displaying a sparkling turn of foot in the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap at Newcastle.
Since making a winning debut at Gosforth Park in December 2021, a total of 17 of 24 career races have been on an artificial surface for Roger Varian's eight-year-old.
He has won twice at Listed level and was second to Chancellor in the Tandridge Stakes when attempting back-to-back wins in that contest last time out. This time, 3lb better off for a length with John and Thady Gosden’s one-time Classic hope, he won by a length and a quarter from Blue Rc.
Jack Mitchell has ridden him more than any other jockey and said: "He’s a horse who has always had a special place in my heart all through his career.
"As an eight-year-old against younger horses I thought he’d have to be at his very best today."
Andrew Balding’s Stateira looked the banker on the card and she duly obliged as the 11-8 favourite in the BetMGM Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships Handicap.
Having impressed when winning at the trials meeting 72 days ago, Balding decided to bide his time and wait for the £150,000 final and it paid dividends.
Despite being 10lb higher, Oisin Murphy oozed confidence and she looks well worth a crack at a black-type race.
"She was entitled to be favourite, but I was just a bit concerned that we’d have to chance plans as she normally likes to get on with it at her own speed," said Murphy.
"I thought if I rode her that way today she’d do too much into the headwind, but I was pleased with how she settled, she went to sleep and she was entitled to win."
On some of his best form, William Haggas’ Wiltshire looked well handicapped in the Midnite All-Weather Sprint Handicap but he had developed a propensity to be slowly away.
However, he broke on terms this time and the 7-1 chance moved smoothly into contention under Cieren Fallon, who followed Fivethousandtoone through before scooting clear to win by a length.
Haggas’ wife and assistant Maureen said: "He finally had to had a wind op and combined with the tongue tie he seemed happier. He’s always had the ability, we know that.
"He enjoys the all-weather and when he’s on the grass he doesn’t want it too quick. He needed that, a nice confidence boost."
The Glen Rovers sprang a 33-1 surprise in the Midnite All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap.
With £175,000 on offer a competitive field had assembled, including one from the all-conquering Willie Mullins yard in Gaucher, ridden by champion all-weather jockey Billy Loughnane.
He appeared to have everything covered going into the final furlong and hitting the front but Sean D Bowen, himself champion apprentice in 2024, was coolness personified before making his challenge, winning by half a length on the Lucy Wadham-trained runner.
Bowen said: "He was very good, he’s two from two here now. I was able to get cover from a wide draw and that made the difference.
"He’s top heavy so he takes a few runs to get into the swing of things."
Charlie Johnston could be tempted to have a tilt at a 1000 Guineas with Timeforshowcasing after she beat the boys in the £100,000 BetMGM Burradon Stakes.
Not beaten far in the May Hill last season, the Jaber Abdullah-owned filly won three of her five starts in all but drifted alarmingly in the betting for this Listed affair.
That did not deter Johnston, though, who having thought she was a big price in the morning at 8-1, went in again as she continued to drift right out to 25-1.
Having travelled smoothly in the hands of Callum Shepherd, she had to be tough in the closing stages to see off the once-raced Padraig Dawn by a neck in a Placepot-busting opener to the card.
"All day I've been thinking 'what do people know that I don’t?’, because this filly worked last Thursday and I thought she was in phenomenal order," said Johnston.
"She was 6-1, went out to 10-1, then 16s and she’s won at 25-1. I hope my bookmaker gives best odds guaranteed! I backed her, twice, because I couldn’t believe how much she drifted.
"She’s a filly we always loved last year, she won her first two and then we probably asked her questions she wasn’t ready for at the time in Group company, but when she stepped down slightly in class she won well at Goodwood.
"We’ve made all the ambitious entries for her, she’s in the English and Irish Guineas and I felt we had to come somewhere to warrant going for one of those and I thought this was the obvious starting point.
"I’m delighted she’s done the job and we’ll see what the owners want to do, she won’t be out of place in a Guineas, albeit she’d have a bit to find."
