Saints link as racing history is made at Salisbury

BRITISH flat racing history is believed to have been made at Salisbury last night when a father and son both rode winners at the same meeting.

Dad John Egan established the first leg of the record when Koeman, named after Southampton FC's former manager and trained by ex-Saint Mick Channon, readily took the 12 furlong handicap.

Half an hour later it was David's turn when he caused a 20/1 upset in the nine furlong handicap on Lyrica's Lion.

"We've ridden against each other in the same race," David said afterwards. "In fact we finished second and third in the Brockelsby at Doncaster in March. Dad came up and beat me a short head.

"I'm really looking for the time when we can have a real ding-dong battle - and hopefully I'll beat him!"

Alan King was unquestionably the most relieved trainer at the course when Beringer took the opening seven furlong novice race.

Saddling his first juvenile winner of the season, admittedly it was only the third he had saddled from his 17 youngster intake, he confessed: "If he hadn't run well, I thought I'd be in trouble with them but that has given me more confidence."

King, principally associated with National Hunt racing, admitted he had been mortified by the Sea The Stars colt's dismal debut a fortnight ago when well held in a similar maiden at the course.

"I thought he would at least finish in the middle," he confessed. "Whether it was the soft ground or I had left him a little short of work I don't know but he has come on a lot since then. I wanted him to run properly this time and stay on."

And that he did, overhauling the pace making General Zoff a furlong and a half out to readily score by two and a half lengths.

Beringer's rider Finley Marsh then went to notch his first double when partnering Dandy Flame in the six furlong handicap for his boss Richard Hughes.

Dandy Flame, who had rattled off a hat-trick on the all weather in January, is an equine Greta Garbo who does not encourage company.

"Leave him along and let him get on with it," were the trainer's final instructions to the claimer who had him swiftly out of the stalls but looked as though he was being collared about two out.

But Dandy Flame is game if nothing else and stayed on to win by a length and a quarter.

"He was always going well," said Marsh. "He has been a bit out of form but always tries his hardest."

Daniel Muscutt rode his first winner for Newmarket trainer William Haggas when Robin Weathers inched out Killay in a head bobber in the seven furlong maiden.

"I wasn't sure I had won," he admitted. Indeed with the course cameraman focusing on Killay, it looked as though he had just been touched off. Instead he had prevailed by a nose.

"He's big and raw," said Muscutt. "He went to the front and had a look around but there was plenty left in the tank."

Robin Weathers was making a belated debut after injuring himself in a paddock at home during the winter.

"He's a horse we have always liked," Haggas's assistant Harry Eustace revealed. "It was very much a case of getting him to the track and letting him enjoy himself. He was very green and will improve."