Ballarina choreographs double

Ballarina’s triumph at Catterick yesterday, when the horse led from start to finish under Neil Farley, rekindled memories of Alston’s win on Troilus at the now defunct Lincoln racecourse in 1961.

“It’s 50 years since I won the first race of the season when I was a jockey,” said Preston-based Alston.

“The girl is all speed and when she was younger she barely stayed three furlongs. We’ve been patient with her and it will hopefully pay off. Hopefully this is a good sign.”

Ballarina, a 13-2 shot, was one of only two runners to stick to the far side and it paid dividends as the mare won by two-and-a-half lengths.

Phillip Makin has been steadily ticking over since becoming Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan’s stable jockey and the new partnership was cemented with Masked Dance’s victory.

There was also a winning start to the 2011 campaign for John Quinn whose Kiama Bay won the feature handicap in the colours of owner Marwan Koukash,

The Malton handler already knows the destination of the winner as Koukash loves to have runners at his local track Chester.

Ian Brennan did not have a clear run two furlongs out but had enough horse underneath him to wait for the gap, and then quicken up, to beat Royal Swain comfortably.

“That was nice as he’s the first horse I’ve had for the owner,” said Quinn. “I told him to buy him so it’s nice that he’s won first time. I know where he’ll be going, a mile-and-a-half handicap at Chester in May.”

Brazillian-born Silvestre de Sousa was the leading jockey at Catterick last season and wasted no time in opening his account for the new campaign on Thrust Control for in-form Malton trainer Brian Ellison.

Paul Hanagan, last year’s champion jockey, booted home Richard Fahey’s Miss Work of Art at Lingfield to open his 2011 account at just the second attempt.

The decision of the Pontefract executive to inject an extra £50,000 in prize money means horses will race for £737,550 at 16 fixtures this year, an average of just over £46,000 per meeting.

While the course has been unable to meet some of the Horsemen’s Group tariffs for Class 2 races, it hopes its pro-active stance will appease lobbyists who are campaigning for increased rewards for owners.

Managing director Norman Gundill said: “In my discussions with Alan Morcombe, chief executive of the Horsemen’s Group, he accepted that we run an efficient racecourse and do not waste money.

“I hope that owners and trainers will accept that we are doing our best in difficult economic circumstances and that they will take an overall view and continue to support all our races as they have done in the past.”

Frankel, Henry Cecil’s unbeaten colt, features among the initial entries for the £150,000 totesport Dante Stakes at York on May 12.

Stablemate Picture Editor, an Epsom Derby favourite until an unexpected reverse last autumn, is another intriguing entry. Connections still believe that he is a Classic-winning horse.

Sir Michael Stoute has entered Carlton House, while Aidan O’Brien is responsible for 19 of the 70 entries.

Richard Fahey’s popular sprinter Knot In Wood, winner of 11 out of 71 starts, including the Sky Bet Dash at York, has been retired at the age of nine by the Malton trainer.