Midnight Martini scoops big prize in opener

Report: York, Thursday

DBS £300,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes 6f

MIDNIGHT MARTINI scooped the first prize of £147,720 with a game performance in the opening race on day three of the Ebor festival.

The only filly in the race, Midnight Martini raced at the front throughout and took the overall lead approaching the two furlong marker.

The challengers were queuing up in behind but the Tim Easterby-trained two-year-old kept finding for David Allan's urgings and just held the late challenge of  Carnaby Street and Sole Power to score at odds of 18-1.

Midnight Martini's victory was her third straight win and her jockey was delighted with her progression.

Allan said: "She was a little keen early on and raced to the front readilly. She started to look around in front but picked up when the challengers came. She is a really tough and genuine filly."

Easterby added: "This filly loves hard ground, and I was praying they weren't going to water in case we had too much rain."

There was a nasty moment in the closing stages of the race, when the well-backed favourite Rodrigo De Torres unseated jockey Neil Callan as they crossed the line.

Despite taking a blow to the face, Callan was quick to get to his feet and will be fit to take his remaining rides on the card.

After reviewing the incident the stewards dished out an eight-day ban to Ryan Moore for careless riding on Red Badge, which resulted in causing the interference that saw Callan take a tumble.

Moore will be out of action between September 3-10 and will miss the first two days of the St Leger meeting.