UK: Mayson demolishes July Cup field

Sunday, 15 July 2012: Richard Fahey's Mayson put up a superb performance in rain-softened ground to demolish the opposition in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

The 20-1 chance was in front from an early stage in the hands of champion jockey Paul Hanagan and kicked clear a couple of furlongs out, after which he never looked likely to relinquish his advantage.

He readily beat The Cheka by five lengths, with favourite Society Rock third, to land a second Group One winner for both the jockey and trainer and their first in Britain after Wootton Bassett's victory in France two years ago.

Hanagan, who suffered a nasty fall on the same turf two weeks ago, said: "It's typical of this game, the ups and downs, so it's been an amazing couple of weeks. It's a big weight off my shoulders. Being the champion jockey, you really need to win top-class races like this. It's such a good buzz."

Mayson had appeared a sprinter of obvious potential when winning twice over the Rowley Mile in the spring, but lost his chance in the stalls in the Duke Of York Stakes and was well beaten in a Group Three race at Newcastle a fortnight earlier.

Fahey said: "It's fantastic for me and Paul. They don't realise he's still my number one and we borrow him from time to time!

"It went wrong at York when he got his leg stuck in the stalls and it was unraceable at Newcastle - you put your foot on the track and water was coming through. This track has taken the rain fantastic. He's in the Nunthorpe, but he got very upset at York in the stalls, so we'll see."

Eve Johnson Houghton, trainer of the second, said: "I'm absolutely delighted. Jimmy (Fortune) said he loved the ground, but I said I thought that was pushing it. He handled it. Fair play to the winner, we've beaten him before and he's beaten us. I suspect we will look at Champions Day now."

James Fanshawe is also thinking of Ascot for third-placed Society Rock (7-2 favourite) and said: "When the conditions are like this, I think you are just grateful they have run well."

Australian raider Ortensia ran with credit in fourth and trainer Paul Messara said: "She hated the track and she'd never run on ground anything like that before. On that basis it was a huge run and we'll see how we go in the Nunthorpe."