Washington Heights won the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes at Newmarket with a record-tying fifth victory, thanks to a strong finish from the front by trainer Kevin Ryan.
Having won the Group Three competition in the past with Hamza (2014), Astaire (2015), and the well-liked dual winner Brando (2017 and 2018), Ryan entered a largely overlooked 33-1 shot this time around who hadn't raced since winning a Listed event at Bro Park in September.
The four-year-old, who finished several competitive sprint handicaps before his Swedish victory, is expected to continue his career at Pattern level going forward after a strong comeback victory on the Rowley Mile under Tom Eaves' skilful guidance.
Both Mill Stream, who finished in second place and was defeated by a length and a half, and Spycatcher, who finished third with just a head's difference, had excellent starts to their campaigns.
Adam Ryan, the assistant to his father Kevin, said of the winner: “He was a bit of an unlucky horse last year and he bumped into Shaquille the first time out giving him weight. The good thing about him is he is very consistent and he deserved to get his head in front in Sweden. This year was always going to be about if he could take the next step up and he has certainly done that. He’s such a genuine horse and if you had 100 like him it would be an easy game. He’s always going to give you 110 percent and once his head is in front he is always going to be hard to pass.”
Cosmo Charlton, representing the winning owners, Hambleton Racing Ltd, said: “We’ve got quite a few of the syndicate here today and everyone was really excited. He’s done well over the winter and was impressive over in Sweden last year so we were hoping he was going to run above his odds today. He’s a horse who tried very hard in his races and he’s run loads of really good races for us. It was a strong Group Three today and almost a Group Two on paper and he just has a tremendous attitude and Tom just said he tries very hard for you and digs deep. I sort of knew he had won a furlong out to be honest.”