Pat Eddery made a rare visit to Beverley yesterday and treated his followers to a 76 to 1 treble. The former champion showed that his skills remain intact with victories on Cooling Castle, Imani and Nika Nesgoda.
Eddery's tactical awareness ensured the success of 5 to 2 chance Nika Nesgoda in the Moortown Maiden Stakes. As the race developed into a slow gallop, the Irishman took the initiative and sent his mount on after two furlongs.
Winding up the pace in the home straight, the pursuers were left with a tough task. Nika Nesgoda kept up the gallop in the final furlong and she never looked likely to be caught. It was Compton Ace, the only mount of the day for Frankie Dettori, that finished best to take second.
Nika Nesgoda was the second leg of a double for John Dunlop, who had earlier been on the mark with Imani. Imani shrugged off topweight in the Happy Birthday Dana Fillies' Handicap, staying on strongly to take care of Bunnies Own.
Cooling Castle teed up the treble for Eddery when seeing off Tikotino in the Pannell Claiming Stakes.
"It looked like he was making hard work of it, but I'm not complaining about a winner," said trainer Brian Meehan.
The reigning champion Kieren Fallon left empty-handed after his main hope Twickers was caught near the finish by the newcomer Jaypeecee in the closing Fulford Maiden Stakes.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)