Favourite Dakota Gold strikes a blow for punters with Great St Wilfrid rout

Persistence paid off as the heavily backed Dakota Gold finally landed the big prize he had long threatened and broke Michael Dods's Great St Wilfrid duck.

He had been one of his trainer's three runners-up in six years when second in this £75,000 dash last season and started 2019 with the slightly underwhelming profile for such a smart sprinter of four wins in 22 starts.

But the five-year-old hinted at better times ahead when scoring under Connor Beasley at York last month and the same partnership – backed down to 5-1 favourite from a morning 9-1 – bolted up by two and a quarter lengths here.

Great St Wilfrid replay, result and analysis

"He's improving and with another year on him he's getting the six furlongs. He's put the race to bed at halfway; he showed so much speed," said the trainer, who blamed himself for the horse's previous low strike-rate.

"We were trying to get him to settle," said Dods, whose Spinatrix had finished second in this in 2013 and 2014. "In the end we just had to say Equianos like to get on with it, and since we've decided to let him do that he's been a different horse.

"Having gone close before it's great to win. I thought he was short in the betting, I couldn't believe it in a handicap like that. But I can't complain!"

Beasley, who won this race on Nameitwhatyoulike in 2016, added: "He's as tough as old boots. He won at York second time out and to do what he's done today with more weight on his back in this company was really good."

A quick return at York could be on the cards as Dakota Gold is entered in the 5.5f handicap at the Ebor meeting but Dods, whose Mabs Cross bids to improve on her own second in the 2018 Nunthorpe, said: "He's in the Ayr Gold Cup and there is the Portland, so we have a few races; we'll look at them and decide."

Last year's winner Gunmetal was withdrawn less than an hour beforehand due to the soft ground but 2018 third Growl returned to land the consolation Silver Trophy.

Racing along the stands' rail, Marwan Koukash's sprinter got the verdict by a neck from Hyperfocus, who was wide apart on the far side, to the delight of jockey Tony Hamilton, who had no idea who had won.

"I was half trying to have a look across and ride him at the same time, but you don't know," he said.

"You just ride them to the line and if the result comes off, then happy days. Growl has not won for a while but he's tumbled down the handicap as a consequence."

Growl (Tony Hamilton) wins his first race since 2016Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Get free tipping content with The Punt from 8.30am daily on the Racing Post mobile app