Blaine still a '˜live one' as Fallon sprints in for Nicholls

SPRINTER Blaine rolled back the years to provide Yorkshire with a Derby day winner at Epsom.
Blaine ridden by Kieren Fallon comes home to win the Investec Asset Management Stakes (Handicap).Blaine ridden by Kieren Fallon comes home to win the Investec Asset Management Stakes (Handicap).
Blaine ridden by Kieren Fallon comes home to win the Investec Asset Management Stakes (Handicap).

A winner of York’s Gimcrack Stakes in 2012 when trained by Kevin Ryan, Blaine was sold by owners Matt and Lauren Morgan at the beginning of this year.

Now trained at Thirsk by Dandy Nicholls, and owned by Lady O’Reilly, the six-year-old took the finale by four-and-a-half lengths following a tactically astute ride by the veteran Kieren Fallon.

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Just as Irish horses dominated the Derby, the six-furlong finale was a Yorkshire clean sweep with Blaine chased home by Shared Equity from the Middleham yard of Jedd O’Keeffe with Perfect Pasture third for Mick Easterby.

The latter was ridden by Sean Levy, who earlier made history when Humphrey Bogart finished fifth in the Derby. From Swaziland, he was the first black jockey to ride in the celebrated Classic – a poignant achievement on the day boxing icon Muhammad Ali died.

Fallon was full of praise for Blaine, saying: “He was very well in and had a good draw. They went quite quick and I got the splits where I needed them. He’s got his head in front and should go on from there.

“I was going so well that I could have gone in or out, but you are better off going in sometimes, saving ground – it gives the horse confidence as well.

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“When you ride Dandy’s sprinters, you know you are on live ones and they make it easy for you.”

Blaine’s win provided the Nicholls stable with some compensation after Kimberella totally missed the break in the five-furlong Investec Corporate Banking Dash.

Despite this, and then being denied a clear run, Frederik Tylicki’s mount still finished second to course specialist Caspian Price.

Now trained in the Home Counties by Dean Ivory, he won the race two years ago for Yorkshire handler Tony Carroll.

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Back in third was Duke Of Firenze for Bawtry trainer David Griffiths. Musselburgh’s Sprint Cup is an option for last month’s York winner.

“He’s rated around 100 now so it won’t be easy but he’s in the form of his life and seems to be better than ever,” said a delighted Griffiths.