Howzat! Jonny Bairstow enjoys more Knavesmire glory as 20-1 Jungle Drums hits his rivals for six

England cricketer Jonny Bairstow enjoyed more big-race glory on the Knavesmire when Jungle Drums hit his rivals for six in the Rockingham Stakes.

The hard-hitting batter and wicketkeeper, who also plays for Yorkshire, is part of the ownership group the Bronte Collection, which landed the Acomb Stakes at the Ebor meeting last year with the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Indian Run.

Bairstow was back in the York winner's enclosure as Jungle Drums, trained by Karl Burke, left his rivals stumped with a 20-1 front-running success in the Listed contest.

He said: "We had Indian Run last year in the Acomb and I've grown up in York and hopefully the good run can continue. I'm on a day out with the family and some really close friends and getting a winner makes it lovely.

Jungle Drums lands the Rockingham Stakes on York's final meeting of the yearCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I've been coming here since I was 16 or even younger, to be honest. All the lads used to meet near where the trees were by the paddock before the redevelopments took place. It's always a great day out here come rain or shine and this'll make it a good time again."

Jungle Drums disappointed in a French Group 3 last month but thrived in the testing conditions for a length-and-three-quarter victory.

Bairstow added: "What a load of heart he showed. You could see what the ground was like and to do it like that from that far out was a great effort."

Burke quickly enjoyed a 167-1 double when Bolster toughed it out for success in the 1m2½f handicap.

The trainer's assistant James Cowley said: "The ground is key with him. He's probably pounds ahead of himself on soft, even heavy ground. It makes such a difference. He stays so well.

"When he runs on good ground the speed horses just have that extra gear, but from three out he was away and there was no stopping him."

Red strikes again

Strike Red repeated his heroics in the Coral Sprint Trophy from two years ago with a gutsy win under Billy Garritty.

The Richard Fahey-trained six-year-old struck by three-quarters of a length under Garritty in 2022 and they scored by that same distance again from the 11-2 favourite Room Service. 

Strike Red and Billy Garritty win the Coral Sprint Trophy againCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Garritty said: "He's been magnificent to me. He had a bad injury last year that you wouldn't really see on Flat horses and more on jumps ones. 

"He's been better than ever this year and this worked out easily enough. I always told Richard he feels like a Group horse and he's a top-end handicapper. There's plenty still to look forward to."

The jockey enjoyed a 181-1 double with following the surprise win of 25-1 shot Two Brothers in the 1m2½f handicap.

On a roll

In-form jockey Lewis Edmunds took his strike-rate in the last fortnight to 26 per cent with Fearless Freddy's win in the mile nursery.

"He got me out of a big hole," he said. "When the race developed it became a coffin box. I couldn't get out and I pulled him out as a last-ditch attempt, then he found plenty."

Top trainer

Andrew Balding capped winning the track's leading trainer award this year with Almeric's victory in the mile maiden.

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'It's fantastic' - Indian Run makes it a day to remember for cricket star Jonny Bairstow 

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