Massive shock as 1-12 favourite beaten by 36-rated rival hailed by trainer as the 'sweetest filly in the world'

Scent Of May caused a huge shock when defeating 1-12 shot Star Of Mali in the 5f maiden, though trainer Henry Candy was not totally surprised and said he had approached the race in a positive frame of mind. 

Nicola Currie was quick to grab the rail on the 25-1 chance from their nearest-the-stands draw in stall five, and the three-year-old kept finding inside the final furlong to repel the long odds-on favourite by a short head. 

"I thought nearly all of them had question marks about them, so I felt positive – she's very game," said Candy, whose filly was shedding her maiden tag at the fourth attempt. 

Scent Of May made it to the track once as a juvenile and had her first start this season only last month. She took a BHA rating of just 36 into the race after finishing last of four at Windsor a fortnight earlier.

Candy said: "She had an awful spring. She had to have her spine operated on, with bits of bone removed, as well as chips in her knees which we had to get removed. She's been through hell. But she's had lots of training in the swimming pool, and she's at last got herself fit — most importantly, she has her confidence back.

"She's the sweetest filly in the world. She put up with all the aggravation and never stopped smiling, she's a joy.

"I'm hoping she'll go up a lot from that. It's not often you hear a trainer say that."

Dovey team over the moon

Dovey Moon extended his perfect record at the track in the feature mile handicap for David Evans.

The three-year-old secured his second course-and-distance win when 5lb claimer Jack Dace rode the 11-1 shot to a comfortable length and a half victory over Ajrad in the £35,000 final of Chepstow's Mile Series. 

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