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Richard Hughes delivered Balty Boys with a perfectly timed challenge to win the Makfi Suffolk Stakes, the opening event on Qipco 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket.
Sent off an 8-1 shot for the nine-furlong contest, the jockey maintained a watching brief as Spirit Of The Law cut out the early running, before Knight Owl and Educate both started their runs for home.
However, Hughes had plenty up his sleeve on Brian Ellison's charge, bringing Balty Boys to the front approaching the dip before pulling away to win by two and a quarter lengths. Halation was also produced late to snatch second, with Educate clinging on for third.
Part-owner Jay Patel said: "We thought he had a good chance today. Brian said just to keep him handy and take it easy on him and Richard has produced him brilliantly. He was cruising at the line."
It was the perfect start to the defence of his jockeys' championship crown for Hughes, who is seeking a fourth straight title before he retires at the end of the season.
Twilight Son looks to have a very bright future after taking the Charm Spirit At Tweenhills Handicap in fine style.
Taking his record to three wins from as many starts on what was his seasonal reappearance, the Henry Candy-trained colt had a smooth two lengths in hand of Desert Son at the line.
Candy said of the 11-10 favourite: "Dane O'Neill said he did not like that ground at all, although he did lengthen when he met the rising ground.
"He was only a little horse last year, but he has grown and grown. We will take it easy the first half of the year as he would not want to run on that sort of ground too often, and that is why he has no fancy entries. You would like to think he could make up into a Group horse, but he has got a long way to go, both mentally and physically."
Best Of Times staked his Classic claims with an impressive success in the Listed Harbour Watch Newmarket Stakes.
Winner of two of his three starts last year, Saeed bin Suroor's charge was sent off the 9-4 favourite for the 10-furlong heat and after sitting in behind My Reward during the early stages, he was primed to kick on in the final two furlongs.
James Doyle had to keep his mount up to his work in the closing stages as Balios launched a last-gasp challenge, but Best Of Times was half a length too good at the line.
Bin Suroor said: "He ran well, but he needed the race as he was carrying a lot of condition and was only about 85 per cent fit. He's a really nice horse and has always worked well in the morning. We'll keep our options open, but the Dante could be our next step, while he could be our Derby horse."
Mutasayyid obliged favourite-backers at odds of 9-4 in the closing Qipco Supports Racing Welfare Handicap, holding off 20-1 stablemate Gibeon by a nose. The runner-up was demoted to third and Richard Hughes banned for two days for causing interference.
Winning trainer Richard Hannon said: "He's a horse we've liked a lot, but he'd been off the track a long time so that was a good performance. Hopefully he might be a Britannina horse, as Paul (Hanagan) thinks he will be better on a flat track."