'He's a lovely horse' - Pacific Avenue makes a splash on the July course to earn 33-1 quote for 2,000 Guineas

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin kept their excellent record in the 7f novice stakes going but not with the runner many expected as 9-1 chance Pacific Avenue made a splash on his debut.

The winner, who held off stablemate and 30-100 favourite Wild Desert by a head was given an opening quote of 33-1 for next year's 2,000 Guineas by Paddy Power 

Winning jockey Dougie Costello said: "I had the perfect position throughout the race and he's a lovely horse, as you would expect as he's out of that useful mare Lumiere. He enjoyed the ground, which was the key."

Alex Merriam, assistant to Appleby said: "They both ran nice races. I think Pat felt his horse had time to get there if he was good enough, but Pacific Avenue kept pulling out."

The Moulton Paddocks team were winning the novice for the third straight year following Ancient Wisdom in 2023 and Ancient Truth a year ago. 

The winner, a brother to stablemate and Moulton Paddocks stalwart Highland Avenue, had a perfect tow into the race from frontrunner Commander's Intent as the five-runner field crossed to the far rail with Wild Desert being shut in behind under Pat Dobbs.

As the field hit the Dip, Costello went for home on Pacific Avenue and had enough left to hold his stablemate, who finally saw daylight.

Crowd control 

Apprentice Olivia Haines rode her first winner on the Rowley Mile  last month and matched that on the July course when getting Crowd Quake home in the opening mile apprentice handicap.

The success of the 3-1 chance,  his fourth win in five starts, was keeping Haines's boss Stuart Williams on a roll after the Hamilton Road trainer saddled a double at the track's opening fixture of 2025 on Friday.

Olivia Haines and Crowd Quake are led in after landing the apprentice handicap

Haines said: "Stuart and I walked the track last night and thought it was safe enough for him to run; he was a very generous partner. I kicked at the right time and managed to get first run on the second and I couldn't be happier."

It was Haines's sixth career win and Williams said: "Olivia has done well as the July course is a hard course to ride. If you stand at the winning line you could put a double decker bus in the Dip a furlong and a half out and you would not see it.." 

Callan first

Jack Callan returns on Curran

Promising 7lb claimer Jack Callan rode a winner on his first visit to the July course when getting Curran home for Charlie Johnston in the 1m6f handicap.

The son of jockey Neil Callan said: "He was a very straightforward horse and a very willing partner out of the Dip."

Footsteps of giants

Elarak revived memories of the great Baaeed in 2021 when carrying the Shadwell silks to an emphatic success under Pat Dobbs in the mile novice stakes.

After being denied by Dougie Costello earlier on Wild Desert, Dobbs gained revenge when steering the penalised runner past Costello's mount Naval Command to win by five and a half lengths.

Pat Dobbs and Elarak are led in after winning the mile novice stakes

The Charlie Hills-trained 11-4 chance's task was made easier by the absence of 6-4 favourite First Principle, who broke loose at the start, hitting backers of the winner with a 40p in the £ reduction.

Dobbs said: "He's a nice horse who would probably do better in a better race."

The rider quickly doubled up when steering 13-8 favourite Circe home in the 6f handicap to give Richard Hannon his first winner at the track since 2023.

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