Ron Harris hopeful of strong season end as Hattie C makes it 16th time lucky

Wednesday: Brighton

Ron Harris is hoping that Hattie C's 16th-time lucky success in the 5½f maiden will "break the back" of a frustrating season.

The Wayne Clifford-owned filly was the beneficiary of a fierce early gallop set by newcomer Shawaag, who she picked up in the final furlong to score by nine and a half lengths.

"It's great for the breeding side of it and owner Wayne Clifford, that's what she had to do and we found the right race," said Harris.

"They went really hard and for a newcomer to keep going at that pace, they would have to have been very special."

This was a third winner of a difficult season for Harris, but he is hopeful that the recent hot weather can set up his string for a strong finish to the campaign.

He said: "We've had a very slow season in the sense of winners, everything has been running well and someone told me we've had about 20 seconds since Christmas.

"Hopefully that's broke the back of it now. We're looking for a bit of better ground for my horses, a lot haven't been running. They haven't been overraced and fingers crossed for a big end to the season."

Opening drama

Interference continued to make the headlines as the stewards intervened to split the initially dead-heating pair of Vandad and Wiley Post in the opening 5½f handicap.

The Luke Morris-ridden Vandad was awarded the race after being hampered in the closing stages. The rider went on to complete a treble on the card aboard the Sir Mark Prescott-trained pair of Heat And Dust and Eagle’s Way.

Results, replays and analysis

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