John Reid, seemingly edged out from his job as jockey to Robert Sangster by Jimmy Fortune, got the better of a battle with his young pretender as Nedawi took the 222th running of the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.
The race may have been a substandard running of the Leger, but it nevertheless provided a finish that quickened the pulse.
With Frankie Dettori travelling to Leopardstown, Reid was called up to ride Nedawi and yet again proved a more than able deputy in the royal blue colours as he forced his mount to a narrow victory over the Fortune-partnered High And Low.
Fortune set out to make the running on High And Low, one of three Barry Hills-trained entrants in the race, tracked by Noel Meade's Sunshine Street and Reid on Nedawi.
Nedawi found his path impeded by Sunshine Street and Ta-Lim when Reid wanted to make his move a furlong out, but once finding room, quickened to the front 75 yards from the finish, despite slaloming away from the whip, to beat High And Low by half a length. Two and a half further back was Sunshine Street. The success vindicated Sheikh Mohammed's decision to saddle Nedawi alone with the responsibility of the Godolphin bid.
"To be honest, I didn't know that he would win here, but I thought he would have a good chance and he would stay," said the elated Sheikh, welcoming Godolphin's 10th European Classic winner.
"We thought this horse would improve. Last year he was a baby - he still is a baby in his mind - so he will learn from this.
"When he saw the stick in his left, he just went right, but he will be maturer and he will be a better horse next year."
Reid said afterwards: "I have never won this race - I have been second in it once. It has taken me a long time to get here but it is well worth it."
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