THE toast was to absent friends at Newmarket yesterday as Carranita landed a substantial gamble in the listed Portland Place Properties Hopeful Stakes.
The six year old picked up her third Listed prize of 1996 - and her fourth in all - but one man not present was her trainer Bryn Palling. He was told to keep well away from Headquarters - by order of the owners.
Racing towards the far rail, Carranita was sent to the front by Kim Sprake a furlong from home and kept on to deny Atraf by a length, with Rambling Bear a one paced third a length and a half adrift.
In doing so she netted quite a profit, having been sent off the 100 to 30 favourite after being freely on offer at 6 to 1 yesterday morning.
In Palling's absence his travelling head girl Jenny Thomas explained: "The owners told Bryn not to come, because they have better luck without him. She likes to get her toe in and it would be nice to win a Group race with her in the autumn.
Carranita was moving off the 13 winner mark for her career and also giving Palling his 14th success of the season.
Henry Cecil added Flying Legend to his list of St Leger candidates after the Alleged colt had sauntered to an impressive victory in the Breheny Handicap.
Sent on by Willie Ryan with three furlongs remaining, Flying Legend lengthened to a five length win over Tudor Island.
