'He was a genius' - Tees success poignant for Nicholls as he remembers his dad

Saturday: Epsom

Adrian Nicholls was blinking back tears after Tees Spirit landed the Epsom Dash on the fifth anniversary of the death of his father David 'Dandy' Nicholls, who once made the race his own with five successes.

The trainer landed the sprint aboard Rudi's Pet for his father in 2002, but said he was able to appreciate victory more as a trainer after he watched 10-1 shot Tees Spirit finish a head clear of Mountain Peak.

Nicholls said: "My old man loved it down here and I was lucky to win a Dash for him. At the start of the year he always tried to plan for this. When this lad won at Beverley I was adamant we would come to Epsom.

"He's improving and Barry McHugh has given him a brilliant ride. My wife Clare rides him. We're a small team and to come here on Derby day is amazing.

"I took it for granted when I was riding. I wasn't the best, but my dad was a genius. I appreciate what he did as a trainer.

"It was five years ago to the day that he died so it's quite poignant. I always wanted to make him proud and you can't do much more than win the Dash, which he always described as being a Derby for us."

Of the winning rider, Nicholls added: "Barry is a big cog in the wheel of our yard and he does a hell of a lot. He's had bad luck with falls and injuries, but he's riding out of his skin. It's a team effort and I'm just the little bald fella at the front."

Royal Ascot option

William Haggas did not rule out Royal Ascot for Bashkirova after the filly came home powerfully to win the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

The four-year-old, who was second in a Listed contest at Goodwood last month, stayed on well to score by a length and a quarter under Tom Marquand, who celebrated his eighth Group victory of the year.

Bashkirova was cut to 7-1 (from 12-1) for the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at the royal meeting, a race Haggas last won in 2019 with Move Swiftly.

Bashkirova (white cap) proves best of the Cheveley Park pair in the Princess Elizabeth StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

"The Duke of Cambridge is ten days away so we'll see," said Haggas. "The ground is important and she needs a bit of cut. I wouldn't rule Royal Ascot out, but we'll see. She's four and if you look after them when they're young they've got to earn a bit when they're mature."

On Marquand, the trainer added: "He's an excellent rider. He's fit, strong and personable, and at the moment he's very confident. I've said for ages I can't understand why he doesn't have six rides every meeting. He rides these good horses well and is as good as anyone."

Gosdens strike back

John and Thady Gosden came agonisingly close to winning the Oaks with Emily Upjohn on Friday, but gained some compensation when Megallan landed the Group 3 Diomed Stakes.

The four-year-old, who carried the colours of 2015 Derby winner Golden Horn, finished a length clear of Modern News under Frankie Dettori after struggling to make an impression at Chester last time.

Dettori said: "He didn't handle Chester at all – he can throw the odd bad race in here and there, but when he's on song he's a tough horse.

"We went good fractions and I was trying to emulate my hero, Steve Cauthen, who's here, to show him that I've learnt a bit since he retired."

Frankie flies above the top hats in the winner's enclosure following his win on Megallan in the Diomed StakesCredit: Alan Crowhurst

John Gosden said he will look to step Megallan up to Group 2 company next time, adding: "He ran very well in the Earl of Sefton where he was beaten by a good horse then he went to Chester where it didn't work out there. They went flat out and the ground was very testing and he didn't enjoy it. He didn't get the trip.

"I think this is probably spot-on his trip. A hard-run mile and a quarter on testing ground like it was at Chester is too far for him. We'll look at a Group 2 over a mile. We'll look all over for one of those and it might be in France or it might be in England."

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