John Smith's Cup
Heritage Handicap, York 15:40
£200,000 added,
3yo plus,
1m 2f 56y, Class 2   
Saturday 13th July 2019

SureWIn

1 Pivoine 14/1
2 Setting Sail 9/2F
3 What's The Story 12/1
4 Another Touch 50/1
21 ran NR: Buzz, Hortzadar Distances: 1l, ¾l, 2l
Time: 2m 10.38s (slow by 3.68s

Pivoine wins for Andrew Balding under Rob Hornby

Pivoine stayed on stoutly to provide jockey Rob Hornby with one of the biggest winners of his career.

Sent off a 14-1 chance, he was yet another big winner for owners King Power Racing and Andrew Balding who are enjoying a thrilling summer.

They were also on the mark at Ascot with Beat The Bank who won the Summer Mile for a second time and Mystery Power, who took the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.

Hornby was patient on the five-year-old as Mountain Hunter, Big Kitten and Setting Sail were in a line entering the final furlong.

Pivoine made his challenge widest of all in the centre of the track and he quickened up stylishly to win by a length.

Setting Sail almost defied stall 23 in second while What’s The Story made late headway to claim third and Another Touch was fourth.

Hornby, 24, said: “It was always going too good to be true. He travelled like a dream. It’s important to get him settled early, and he did and got into a lovely rhythm.

“He likes it round here and I just had to wait to press the button as I knew he has a good turn of foot and conditions were perfect today.

“Approaching the last furlong, I thought ‘this can’t be happening’.

“They were coming up the middle all day and that’s great for a horse like him.

“I was able to make ground and get cover which is an important ploy for this horse. It was seen to good effect today.

“It’s huge for me. I started at Mr Balding’s when I was 16 straight from school and all my big successes have been for the Balding family. It’s just been a massive journey through for my career and it’s continuing which is nice.”

Balding’s wife, Anna Lisa, added: “I’m so thrilled. He’s such a star horse. We call him ‘Big Piv’ at home and he’s a real favourite.

“It’s good for the owners (King Power Racing).

“Having won here last year in August so well, we knew he liked the track and conditions suited. We were hopeful, but with that many runners you need luck as well. Rob gave him a super ride. He was in the right place at the right time. Delighted.

“We’ll get him back home and see what Andrew wants to do.”

BetZone

60th John Smith's Cup (Heritage Handicap)
£200,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 56y, Class 2
21 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1     Pivoine 5 9-8 Andrew Balding Rob Hornby 14/1
2 1 Setting Sail 4 9-4 5ex Charlie Appleby Jamie Spencer 9/2F
3 ¾ What's The Story 5 9-4 Keith Dalgleish Paul Hanagan 12/1
4 2 Another Touch 6 8-13 Richard Fahey Tony Hamilton 50/1
5 hd Afaak 5 9-12 5ex Charles Hills Dane O'Neill 14/1
6 hd Big Kitten 4 8-13 William Haggas Liam Jones 33/1
7 hd Mountain Angel 5 9-10 Roger Varian David Egan 13/2
8 ½ Aasheq 6 9-0 Tim Easterby David Allan 16/1
9 1 Jazeel 4 9-1 5ex Jedd O'Keeffe Sean Davis 11/1
10 ¾ Exec Chef 4 9-2 Jim Boyle Pat Cosgrave 14/1
11 nk Fayez 5 9-1 David O'Meara Cam Hardie 33/1
12 nk Aquarium 4 9-7 Mark Johnston Franny Norton 20/1
13 1 Mordin 5 9-10 Simon Crisford Seamus Cronin 20/1
14 3¾ Restorer 7 9-2 Ian Williams Alistair Rawlinson 50/1
15 1 Waarif 6 9-5 5ex David O'Meara David Nolan 40/1
16 ½ Francis Xavier 5 9-1 Kevin Frost Rossa Ryan 16/1
17 2¾ Leroy Leroy 3 8-6 Richard Hannon Rachel Richardson 33/1
18 shd Stylehunter 4 9-2 John Gosden Robert Havlin 6/1
19 shd Original Choice 5 9-4 Nick Littmoden Ben Curtis 66/1
20 ½  My Lord And Master 4 9-2 William Haggas Cieren Fallon 7/1
21 1hd Scarlet Dragon 6 9-8 Alan King Tom Queally 16/1
11 NR 152-73 Buzz 5 9-2 Hughie Morrison NON RUNNER
20 NR 19 -11657 Hortzadar 4 8-13 David O'Meara NON RUNNER

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