It was a notable day for trainer Richard Spencer with a big-race double on the Ayr card…
- Run Boy Run completes notable Ayr Gold and Silver Cup double for jockey, trainer and owner
- Almeric returns in style with Doonside win
- Catching The Moon upholds Fahey record in Firth Of Clyde
The trainer, jockey and owner combination of Richard Spencer, George Wood and Phil Cunningham enjoyed an ecstatic handicap sprint double as Run Boy Run and Candy took the Ayr Gold and Silver Cups.
Richard Spencer was delighted with the result, telling ITV Racing: "He ran in the Portland the other day and he ran really well and George and I had a chat after and he was thinking he didn't go hard enough.
"I said to him 'we're going to rock 'n' roll' and with the draw I thought we were the wrong side but he's very fast and holds a good cruising speed. He gave him a great ride, it's great.
"We came up here with live chances and I didn't think we'd wait until Saturday to get a winner but the team at home have done a great job."
Cunningham, who has tasted success in big sprint handicaps throughout the year, said: "It's amazing, absolutely amazing. I don't know what to say, it's quite emotional really.
"It was great to get the first one, it's amazing. I'm not being greedy but we're a bit unlucky that Righthere Rightnow didn't get in the Bronze (Cup)!
"What about the jockey? He's done a lot of work with us over the last couple of years and I can't thank George enough."
Elsewhere on the card, the Andrew Balding-trained Almeric returned to the racetrack with a winning effort in the 1m2f Listed Doonside Cup.
Twice raced as a juvenile, Almeric returned in April for a comfortable victory in the Listed Feildon Stakes at Newmarket, before remaining absent. As a three-year-old against his elders, the colt was receiving upwards of two pounds from his older rivals.
With Oisin Murphy on board, the three-year-old colt was slow to start for the 1m2f contest and remained held up for the majority. Asked to make headway at the two furlong marker, he responded well to reach the front at the one furlong point and kept on well to repel King's Gamble by two-and-three-quarter lengths, with Liberty Lane back in third.
Catching The Moon continued Richard Fahey's useful record in the race with victory in the 6f Group 3 Firth Of Clyde.
Second on debut at Leicester, the filly was an easy victor on her second start at Beverley and was the yard's sole representative for the Fahey stable, who had won the race in 2020 and 2022.
Always travelling strong under Oisin Orr, Catching The Moon was prominent in the early stages and found the front inside the final furlong, holding off the late challenge of Lam Yai by a neck. Isle Of Fernandez out-ran expectations to finish a further two-and-three-quarter lengths back in third.
