Primo Valentino fought out a brave victory in the Group One Saudi Arabian Airlines Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket yesterday, providing Peter Harris, who made his fortune from caravans, with his most important success.
The son of Primo Dominie, winning his fifth race in succession, made the running until once-raced Fath shaded him at the furlong marker. But he rallied against the far rail to collar his rival close him for a neck success, with a length and a quarter to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Brahms.
Pat Eddery, who asked the questions, was finishing the job started by younger brother Robert, who oversees the bay's work at home.
Bookmaker reaction varied as to the winner's chances of giving Harris a first classic winner in next year's 2,000 Guineas. Primo Valentino is a general 16 to 1 shot, but William Hill offer 33's.
Alex Ferguson switched his attentions to his second love, racing, and endured another nail-biter before his horse, Zentsov Street, emerged successful and gave O'Brien some compensation for the later defeat of Brahms.
The Manchester United boss was at racing's headquarters less than 24 hours after his side staged a late comeback at Old Trafford to defeat Marseille 2-1.
But Ferguson reckons watching his horses racing is even more nerve-wracking than overseeing the Reds. Zentsov Street, the well-backed 3 to 1 favourite, gave his owner a fright and had to be driven firmly to the line by Michael Kinane to see off the persistent Sawwaah by a head in division one of the Westley Maiden.
The colt is named after the street in which his sire, Nureyev, was born and is one of two horses handled for Ferguson by the Ballydoyle-based trainer.
After the near misses of Sawwaah and Fath, the runner-up in the Middle Park Stakes, there was compensation for owner Hamdan Al-Maktoum as Sakha (Richard Hills) secured the JRA Nakayama Rous Stakes.
Sheikh Hamdan and Hills clinched a double when Qamous pipped Holding Court by a head in the second division of the Westley Maiden.
Jimmy Fortune was banned for five days (October 9th and 11th & 14th) for failing to ride out Freetown in the Lonsdale Claiming Stakes. The colt narrowly lost third place after Fortune dropped his hands.
