2012 Cambridgeshire

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Educate Edges Cambridgeshire Success
28/09/13

1 Educate 8/1F
2 Code Of Honor 12/1
3 Tres Coronas 25/1
4 Graphic 16/1
NR: Ascription (IRE), Chapter Seven, King's Warrior (FR), Top Notch Tonto (IRE)
31 ran Distances: shd, 2l, nse
TIME 1m 51.05s (slow by 3.05s)

Johnny Murtagh worked his big-race magic once again as Educate hung on in a thrilling finish to land the Betfred Cambridgeshire for trainer Ismail Mohammed.

Educate
© Racehorse Photos

Since beginning his training career, Murtagh has enjoyed a golden spell in the saddle, mopping up feature races like the King George and the Haydock Sprint Cup, and finishing top jockey at Royal Ascot.

After a few luckless runs this season, Educate (8-1 favourite) finally enjoyed his day in the sun, but connections were made to wait for confirmation as Henry Candy's Code Of Honor flew home to be beaten just a short head.

Graphic burst clear under Frankie Dettori two furlongs out, but with half a furlong to go he was running on empty as Educate went clear, only for Code Of Honor to give his supporters an anxious moment. Tres Coronas was third on the far side, with Graphic fourth and Seek Again fifth.

Murtagh said: "I had to commit a bit sooner than I wanted to and was in front half a furlong too soon. He drifted left and got a bit tired towards the end and I was glad the line came in time. It was a brilliant performance with a lot of weight. He was a class horse in a handicap.

"I can't really believe it - you couldn't write it. I didn't have any ride in the Guineas, no ride in the Derby. I said to my wife going to Ascot, thank goodness we are training a few. Since Ascot it has turned around. My life has been like that. When opportunities come your way, you've got to take them. That is what I've been doing the last couple of months."

Newmarket handler Mohammed, landing by far the biggest British victory of his career, added: "He's won a lot of races for us, but this was the one I wanted. Winning races like this can only be good for us. I want my team to get bigger and bigger. Educate will go to Dubai and we have a programme for him there."

Betfred Cambridgeshire Heritage Handicap
£160,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 1f, Class 2
31 ran
Going: Good to Firm