'Mia's used her head - she gave him a good ride' - change in tactics pays dividends as Tees Spirit lands feature

Adrian Nicholls was full of praise for daughter Mia after a change in tactics proved key to Tees Spirit landing the feature 5f conditions race.

A habitual front-runner, the six-year-old was dropped in by Nicholls to track King Of Stars before being produced up the inside to score by a length from odds-on shot Emaraaty Ana.

"It wasn't my plan to come here, but when I saw the entries I said to the lads we're going to have to throw him in as it was only going to be four runners," the trainer told Racing TV

"Fair play to Ali Rawlinson [rider of King Of Stars], he and Mia had a talk as we all know how King Of Stars runs. I said to Mia see how you jump, see how Ali jumps and go from there, as there was no point in the two of them taking each other on because it's a long way home with a bit of give in the ground.

"Mia gave him a good ride. She's doing really well and she's at the right stable with Eve [Johnson Houghton], and she used her head there.

"Tees Spirit came into the race in good form and he's been a star this year. Emaraaty Ana had the form in the book, so it was a great performance and I'm chuffed to bits for Mia and the horse."

Sangster scores

Trainer Ollie Sangster took his record at the course to four wins from five runners when Nala Star justified favouritism in the 5f novice under PJ McDonald.

Corelli in tune

The Julie Camacho-trained Captain Corelli completed a four-timer when taking division one of the 7½f handicap under Tom Kiely-Marshall.

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