racing_news/

Tiddliwinks Springs Surprise in Duke Of York Stakes
16/05/12

1 Tiddliwinks 25/1
2 The Cheka 9/1
3 Society Rock 8/1
13 ran

Tiddliwinks sprang a 25-1 surprise when coming from the rear of the field to capture the Grade Two Duke Of York totepool Stakes on the Knavesmire.

Tiddliwinks
© Caroline Norris

The six-year-old, trained by Kevin Ryan, was held up by Jamie Spencer in the early stages as his stablemate Bogart helped make the pace, with Bannock and Soul also prominent.

A close third in this six-furlong feature last year, Tiddliwinks produced a telling turn of foot to take the lead and hold on dourly by a neck from The Cheka, with strong-finishing Society Rock a neck back in third. Bogart was fourth.

Ryan said: "We really fancied him today and Bogart will improve an awful lot for that run too. It means an awful lot to me to have a winner for Guy Reed (owner) at this meeting. He's a huge supporter of mine and a great man.

"I thought he'd got there too soon, but when Jamie gave him a squeeze he just took off. Thankfully, he held on.

"He's had plenty of bad draws and no luck in big sprint handicaps. The ground was too soft for him at Newmarket last time, but you can't win this without having a run, so we had to run him there."

The Cheka's trainer Eve Johnson Houghton said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to bits and he's confirmed he's a sprinter. We'll have to look at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot next - I don't mind being second to Black Caviar!"

Paul Hanagan reported Mayson boiled over in the stalls, while Mick Easterby's market leader Hoof It stayed on into fifth.

Duke Of York Stakes (Group 2)
£100,000 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1
13 runners
Going: Good