THE Group One Grosser Dallrnayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen at Munich yesterday went to Timarida, trained by John Oxx and owned by the Aga Khan.
The mount of Johnny Murtagh, the filly defeated the Ray Cochrane-ridden Germany by half a length, with Paul Cole's Montjoy just over a length back in fourth.
Clive Brittain's Needle Gun, partnered by Michael Kinane, finished seventh of the eight starters. The soft ground forced three withdrawals, including likely favourite Valanour, owned like the winner by the Aga Khan but trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre.
Meanwhile, Peter Chapple-Hyam came within a whisker of landing his third Group race victory in France within the space of eight days when Camporese (John Reid) was beaten a short-neck by Andre Fabre's Helen of Spain (Thierry Jarnet) in the Prix de Pomone at Deauville yesterday.
Chapple-Hyam said of the Oaks-fourth whom he trains for Michael Tabor: "She is a serious filly who has run a fine race here even though she could have done with softer ground. That was Just her third ever race and we will now probably put her away until the Prix Vermeille.
Third place in a six-runner field, a Group Two prize worth nearly £40,000 to the winner, went to Roger Charlton's Spout.
David Abell was cock-a-hoop after Sea Victor got home in a thrilling three horse photo finish to win yesterday's feature race at Chester and complete an outstanding European double for the Midlands owner.
Abell's colours had been carried to victory in Germany earlier in the afternoon by the tough-as-teak Branston Abby, whose 22nd career triumph in the Listed Grosser Sprint-Preis in Munich enabled her to equal Laurel Queen's post-war British record for the number of wins by an equine female.
"What a wonderful day and a wonderful double," exclaimed Abell as he greeted the Jimmy Harris-trained Sea Victor in the winner's enclosure after his nail biting success over Danjing and Embryonic by a neck and a head in the Scania 1996 Truck Of The Year Handicap.
While Sea Victor scores 10 out of 10 for toughness, so to does My Gallery, who gained her seventh win from 20 starts this year under Danny Wright in the Mail On Sunday Mile Handicap.
Powered home by one and a quarter lengths from Wentbridge Lad, My Gallery was making up for a luckless effort at Bath recently when she spoilt her chances by getting upset in the stalls.
Trainer David Evans, successful with Perfect Bliss at Newcastle, completed a notable cross country treble with Rasayel in the King of the Road Fillies' Handicap and I Can't Remember in the Horsepower Nursery Handicap.
Well ridden by John Egan, Rasayel had five lengths to spare over the favourite Campaspe, while I Can't Remember, second leg of a double for Danny Wright, prevailed by one and three quarter lengths from Foot Battalion to prove himself a rare bargain.
Impulsive Air defied his critics to register his second success of the season in a thriller for the feature race on Newcastle's first Sunday meeting yesterday.
Once rated on the verge of Classic standard, the gelding has slipped well down the rankings since his three-year-old days. The respected Timeform Organisation has even awarded Impulsive Air the dreaded squiggle, suggesting the horse is ungenuine.
But Impulsive Air gave a strong hint that the knockers have got it wrong when showing plenty of spirit to prevail in the Rothmans Royals North South Challenge Handicap.
In a driving finish he displayed real battling qualities under Jimmy Quinn to pip the favourite Hawksley Hill by a neck
