'Plenty went wrong' - Eustace adamant there is more to come from debut scorer

Thursday: Brighton

Owner Nick Bradley jumped straight on the phone to call his newest trainer Harry Eustace after their two-year-old filly Cite D'Or landed the 7f maiden and the pair believe "plenty went wrong" despite the winning debut.

Cite D’Or was slow to get into her stride and showed her inexperience throughout but galloped on strongly under Pierre-Louis Jamin to reel in the Marco Botti-trained odds-on favourite Inspirited and win by two lengths.

“As Nick said on the phone, plenty went wrong and she still managed to get the job done which is nice to see,” Eustace said. “She had to come around the favourite and was green coming down the hill. I thought it was encouraging and she hit the line strong. Seven furlongs or a mile, either looks good for the future."

“It was just nice to get her head in front," the trainer added. "I did think Marco Botti's colt was the one to beat but the way Cite D'Or has been at home I didn’t think the [good to firm] ground would be an issue. I think it was a big factor.”

Eustace has had a strong first half of the season, including a breakthrough Royal Ascot success thanks to Latin Lover, and has already matched last season's total of 14 winners. That has put him on the radar for new owners such as Bradley.

“That’s my first horse with Nick Bradley,” the trainer added. “I'd hope the first part of the season has put us on his radar and a big thanks to him for showing a vote of confidence in us and giving us a chance. It’s nice to repay him.”

Wisper the Brighton belle

Wisper is a familiar face in the winner’s enclosure at the Sussex track and added to her record with a ready win in the 1m2f handicap under Dougie Costello.

The four-year-old filly was landing her third course-and-distance success since joining the Marcus Tregoning stable this season and her fourth in all. She is owned by The Reigning Partnership, which was put together by her former trainer Michael Blanshard.

“I hope there’s still more to come,” Tregoning said. “At some stage we'll try her over a bit further because she is settling much better. She’s actually very straightforward and it’s been a lot of fun.

“I’m indebted to Michael. He’s the one who bought her in the first place and I was at the sales when he bought her as a yearling. He trained her for the first year and some time later I got her. She’s a sound filly and very consistent.

“She’ll definitely be coming back, she’s a Brighton belle!”

Percy Jones noses victory

The feature race of the day was for the Brighton Challenge Cup and connections of the winner Percy Jones had an anxious wait as a lengthy stewards’ inquiry halted their celebrations.

The stewards decided there was not enough interference between Percy Jones and the Charlie and Mark Johnston-trained second Fairmac to change the result so the Hughie Morrison-trained three-year-old recorded a first success by a nose under Benoit de la Sayette.

Assistant trainer Charlie Harris said: “We thought we’d just about survive the inquiry but you never know until it’s official. It was a good performance and he’s a nice, improving three-year-old."

Duff a winner at last

The Howard Duff Racing syndicate has owned racehorses for the last two seasons and recorded its maiden victory when the Simon Pearce-trained Georgia Madeleine got her head in front in the 5½f nursery under David Probert.

Duff was there to welcome in Georgia Madeleine and said: “She’s our first winner as a syndicate so we’re extremely happy.”

Results, replays and analysis

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