3 minute read

Twilight Son maintained his unbeaten record in some style when beating 15 rivals in the 888sport Charity Sprint at York.

Trainer Henry Candy is renowned for his handling of speedsters and he has another top-class prospect on his hands in the son of Kyllachy.

A half-brother to his smart stablemate Music Master, and in the same ownership, he is on course to exceed the exploits of his sibling.

Come race time, though, punters were only interested in Scalzo and sent Martyn Meade's charge off the 7-4 favourite while Candy's runner drifted out to 5-1.

Fergus Sweeney, who may have had to ride Scalzo had Paul Hanagan not taken over for new owner Sheikh Hamdan, always looked confident on Twilight Son and he cruised through the race, winning by a length and a half.

Scalzo never looked comfortable after getting worked up in the paddock.

Grandad's World ran well for second with Magical Memory third and Northgate Lad fourth.

"I'm not sure which one I'd have ridden, but it was taken out of my hands," said Sweeney.

"I couldn't separate them, Scalzo has been very impressive but you'd never know how much this lad has left. He's a horse who could stamp his class in Group company.

"I was delighted with him, I got the perfect trip really, he travelled nicely in behind the leaders and picked up nicely.

"He's never been one of those flashy horses, he does what he has to and is still improving. I think there's better to come."

Candy said: "I wasn't totally convinced I was going to run him until he did a breeze earlier this week. In the 10 days prior to that I hadn't been that happy with his scopes and I was on the verge of pulling him out.

"I wasn't worried about the ground, Music Master wants it fast but he prefers a bit of cut.

"He won't go in the saddling boxes and you have to feed him grass to let a jockey get on him but at home he's fine, a professional.

"I'd like to run him in a similar race at the July meeting (at Newmarket) but that is down to the handicapper.

"He's still growing and I think he'll be a very serious horse next year."

Richard Hills, representing Sheikh Hamdan, said of Scalzo: "It was purely the ground. He's by Paco Boy and while some like cut most want top of the ground.

"It's a different soft here to what it is like at Haydock, it rides differently."

Jallota (16-1) won for the first time since his maiden in June 2013 when taking the JCB Handicap.

Now in the care of Charlie Hills having been with Mick Channon in his early days, the four-year-old had been mugged close home last time out at Chester.

Having travelled smoothly into contention for Martin Harley he had to show his resolve to hold off Tim Easterby's One Word More - a former inmate of the Hills yard - by a head. Farlow was third, with Highland Colori fourth.

Harley said: "I knew I'd held on, but 100 yards out I was getting worried. The rain has really got into the ground and he likes it much quicker.

"To be fair to him he travelled as well as ever, but he didn't pick up like I know he can. I used to ride him for Mick so I know him well, it's nice to get on him again, he was third in the July Stakes at two."