Southwell races

The glorious weather had the Nottinghamshire Sports Day theme very busy and the racecourse was full of people of all ages. There was fun for all the family. The eye catcher of the race meeting was Blowing Dixie. He made the 1m 4f look easy even in the heat. The two pony races before the first race, one of the jockeys Edward Vaughan is clearly destined to become an apprentice jockey and then go further.

The 3:00 had the horses very close together throughout. It was hard to see much separating Maystar, Augustus Caesar, Royal Context and Strong Power. Close up was One Bite and Order Of Merritt. There was the slightest lead to Maystar. Royal Context and Abbaleka made headway at two furlongs out while One Bite was ridden along. At one furlong to go  Augustus Caesar, Royal Context and Maystar were pushed along.  In the final furlong Maystar was narrowly headed by Augustus Caesar but Strong Power and Royal Context kept on at the same pace. However Maystar rallied again to take the lead in the closing stages. Augustus Caesar had no more to give. First Maystar by 3/4 lengths, second Augustus Caesar by a neck and third Strong Power by 1 1/2 lengths.

The fourth race had Warrior's Valley leading, tracked by Dark Shot,  Zylan, Samovar, Airglow and Ebitda. Fantasy Keeper and Crosse Fire were not far off the pace. Over two furlongs Warrior's Valley and Airglow needed to be ridden along but the dwelling Lomu made headway. At one furlong out Crosse Fire was ridden to lead with Fantasy Keeper challenging. Dark Shot was ridden at this point as was Warrior's Valley. Within the final furlong Lomu and Airglow had no more to give like most of the field. Warrior's Valley weakened, Dark Shot  and Fantasy Keeper were single paced. Unlike Crosse Fire who kept on strongly. The winner was Crosse Fire by 1 1/2 lengths, giving Scott Dixon a double on the day. Second was Fantasy Keeper by 1 3/4 lengths, third was Dark Shot by 1/2 length.