Karl Burke's 40,000-1 hat-trick in Ayr Gold Cup as Joanna Mason reaches century of winners

Karl Burke was left to celebrate at home in Middleham as Lethal Levi spearheaded a one-two-three for the trainer in the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup.

Burke had already trained the first and second in the race back in 1998, but he bettered that effort as Lethal Levi was just too good for stablemates Silky Wilkie and Korker in this year’s renewal. The five-year-old has been running consistently well all season but his victory over seven furlongs at Newbury last time pushed him up another 4lb and combined with what had previously been seen as a negative draw in stall 20, he was sent off at 20-1 under Clifford Lee.

Adopting his usual front-running tactics, he was taken on for the lead by Silky Wilkie and that pair had it between them from some way out.

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With half a furlong to run, Lethal Levi’s stamina really kicked in and he began to pull away and eventually crossed the line three lengths to the good.

Jockey Joanna Mason earned her 100th winner at Ayr last week (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)Jockey Joanna Mason earned her 100th winner at Ayr last week (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)
Jockey Joanna Mason earned her 100th winner at Ayr last week (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

Silky Wilkie just held off stablemate Korker by a short head for second with Aramis Grey the first home behind the Burke trio – cumulative odds of 40,000-1 - in fourth.

The heavily backed 11-4 favourite American Affair met plenty of traffic problems and finished unplaced.

Burke was not at Ayr having decided to travel to Newbury where Andesite was due to contest the Mill Reef Stakes.

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However, he was withdrawn due to heavy ground, leaving Burke to take in the action at his Spigot Lodge base. “I thought we had plenty of staff going up to Ayr and I was heading to Newbury with the two-year-old, but when he didn’t run I stayed at home – I should have probably gone the other way,” he said.

“If everything went to plan, I did think Lethal was our best chance as he’s been in great form. Korker had been moving really well but with him it’s how well he breaks and we put a visor on Silky Wilkie for the first time, which clearly worked and he gets on really well with Sam Feilden.

“It had looked like the handicapper had Lethal Levi until recently, but he won well at Newbury last time over seven and he’s broken the track record today over six. He’s in great form. Putting blinkers on him has made a huge difference.

“I’m not sure what we’ll do, I’d imagine he’ll be out of handicaps but I’ll have to look in the book, that looked to be at least a Group Three performance and he’d deserve the step up.”

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Joanna Mason has reflected with pride at reaching a significant milestone in riding her 100th winner for her grandfather, Mick Easterby.

The jockey started out on the point-to-point field while taking Flat rides as an amateur before switching to the professional ranks when covid restrictions allowed only those of the latter status to partake.

The move has proved a sound decision ever since, with Mason enjoying a fine season so far having ridden 59 winners to date.

Mason is the granddaughter of Yorkshire’s Mick Easterby, a trainer who needs little introduction and who, at the age of 93, trains alongside his son, David.

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Naturally the stable have played a big role in Mason’s continued success, and at Ayr on Thursday the rider enjoyed her 100th winner for her grandfather when Yorkshire Lady struck in a 10-furlong fillies’ handicap.

“It’s been a pleasure to get 100 winners for my grandad, there have been four others to do it so I join the likes of Paul Mulrennan, Eddie Hide, Terry Lucas and Nathan Evans, which is an honour,” she said.

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