Gordon Elliott is planning an exotic campaign for Dirar after the diminutive stayer provided the Irishman with his biggest success on the Flat in the totesport Ebor at York.
Elliott is far better known as a jumps trainer - becoming the youngest man to win the Grand National back in 2007 - and he has coaxed incredible improvement out of Dirar (14-1), who was running in modest hurdle races just a year ago but progressed enough to finish third in the Galway Hurdle a few days before this.
Jamie Spencer was initially one of the victims of the predictable traffic problems on Dirar but squeezed between Rosika and Bridge Of Gold with about a furlong to run and ended up claiming the first prize of over £150,000 by a length and a quarter.
"The Grand National was brilliant but I probably didn't appreciate it as I was young at the time. We'll make sure we enjoy this one," said Elliott.
"The plan was to run in the Galway Hurdle, where he ran well behind Overturn, then to come here and then look at going to Dubai before having another go at the Galway Hurdle.
"He was a cheap buy but he has been improving all the way."
Spencer added: "This is the second time I've won this race, but I should have won about nine.
"This Festival is named after the Ebor, not the Nunthorpe or Yorkshire Oaks and that's why it's so important."
William Haggas' Approve (8-1) bounced back to his best to win the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes.
The Norfolk Stakes winner has been below par since his Ascot win but reunited with Eddie Ahern, he swooped fast and late to beat Crown Prosecutor by three-quarters of a length.
"It's fantastic to win this race again. As a Yorkshireman, to win it once was great but obviously twice is even better," said Haggas, who took the 2006 renewal with Conquest.
"It's no mean performance to win it with a penalty.
"He lost his way in France a bit but today he was a Group winner and the rest had only won maidens and there was the Super Sprint winner too."
Frankie Dettori treated the crowd to a flying dismount after Opinion Poll wore down Samuel in the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup.
Michael Jarvis' youngster could have a fruitful autumn if the rain finally arrives.
"You dont want too many of these in one day. He was quite lazy half-way through the race," said Dettori.
"We had to knuckle down deep in the last two, but I knew there was plenty in the locker.
"He is a much better horse on soft ground but he showed great guts today.
"All those staying races at the end of the season will be under consideration I would have thought, but there's not too many of them."
Kieren Fallon continued his red-hot streak as he brought home The Fonz (10-1) and New Planet (17-2) to victory.
He teamed up with Sir Michael Stoute to win the totesport.com Stakes on The Fonz.
"He's a nice little horse and the only blip with him was at Haydock," said Stoute.
"That race came a little quick after his run at Windsor so we freshened him up.
"He's just a game and honest handicapper."
New Planet maintained his unbeaten record for John Quinn in the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes.
"He did a piece of work the other day and I said to my son that if he didn't run a massive race, we were in trouble," said Quinn.
"He'll be staying at five furlongs for now and something like the Flying Childers would look suitable for him next."
Rae Guest's Conciliatory (8-1) followed up a recent Kempton win in the closing EBF totepool Fillies' Stakes under Martin Dwyer and the aim is likely to be some black type in the future.
Source:- http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=racing/10/08/19/RACING_York.html
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