Racing: South Central booked his ticket for Royal Ascot when running out an impressive winner on his racecourse bow at Carlisle.
Sent off an 11-1 chance for the Racing UK Median Auction Maiden Stakes, South Central was smartly away under Robert Winston and quickened up impressively before the halfway mark to pass the post with 13 lengths to spare over What A Fella.
Trainer Howard Johnson was suitably impressed with his charge and is now mulling the options at the Royal meeting later this month.
He said: "We have always thought he was a good horse and the plan is to go to Royal Ascot for the Norfolk Stakes or the Coventry Stakes — five or six furlongs won't make any difference to him."
Winston was also more than satisfied, adding: "When I pressed the button over two furlongs out, he really quickened on and if anything had come at him he would have picked up again.
"He is probably the best two-year-old Howard has ever had, particularly at this stage, and if he improves he is certainly a Group horse."
Claret And Amber (11-4 favourite) made up for lost time as he returned to winning form in the Carlisle Conference Group and Waverley TBS Claiming Stakes.
Richard Fahey's charge was sidelined by a leg problem for over a year before returning to action this season but the six-year-old was seen to good effect in beating Efidium by two and three-quarter lengths.
There was a sting in the tail for jockey Paul Hanagan though, as he was banned for one day (June 16) for careless riding.
Apprentice Kelly Harrison coaxed the best out of Red River Boy to register a shock 20-1 success in the TurfTV Handicap.
David Nolan rode out his claim when bringing the Declan Carroll-trained Portrush Storm (100-30 joint-favourite) home in front in the Azure Fillies' Handicap.
The John Quinn-trained Boy Dancer (14-1) just got up in the last strides under Jamie Moriarty to win the carlisleraces.co.uk Apprentice Handicap.
Turn And River was a surprise 25-1 winner of the Cumbria Community Foundation Handicap for rider Mark Lawson and trainer Mel Brittain.
The winner's stablemate Fulford started as the 5-1 favourite for the six-furlong heat but beat only one of the 16 runners as Turn And River powered to a two-and-a-quarter-length success.