'She deserved that' - third time lucky for Gale Force Maya in feature handicap

It was a case of third time lucky for Gale Force Maya as the Michael Dods-trained five-year-old took the feature £30,000 fillies’ handicap.

Second in the race in 2019 when ridden by Paul Mulrennan, she had the same result when sent off 6-4 favourite under Callum Rodriguez in last year’s contest, but the likeable filly was not to be denied on this occasion, holding on by half a length to score with Graham Lee.

A delighted Dods said: "She’s run well in this race before and always got done by a well-handicapped horse. I had a word with the handicapper the other day as she’d had seven races off 92 and was never winning."

The filly showed guts to win off that mark as topweight and Dods added: "She’s very game and did it well today. She deserved that."

Owner Frank Lowe indicated a tilt at black type could be attempted, but Dods said the more immediate target was a £45,000 fillies’ handicap at Newmarket on Thursday week.

"She has got an entry, and obviously now it’s different because I’ll have to check what the penalty is, but that’ll be the plan," he said.

Welcome win

Lee completed a quickfire double aboard 3-1 favourite Flint Hill in the 2m1f handicap, providing trainer Ruth Jefferson with a first winner on the Flat since the same partnership combined to score over course and distance in early June.

Ace milestone

Dylan Hogan needs just one more winner to surpass his best yearly total of 25 winners after victory in the 1m2f handicap aboard the Michael Bell-trained Ace Rothstein, matching his haul from 2020.

Results, replays and analysis

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