Racing Diary: Country Reel win a boost for Loder

David Loder, who trains over 100 of the most beautifully bred two- year-olds in the world at Newmarket hasn't had a lot to smile about so far this season but Country Reel put the spring back into his step by winning that most famous of juvenile races, the Gimcrack Stakes at York.

Country Reel who carries the colours of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had won his first race at Newmarket last month but was pitched in at the deep end here and at the halfway stage it looked as if this Danzig colt would be placed at best. But then Frankie Dettori started to get a response and he stayed on well to beat the previously unbeaten Mister Links.

"Country Reel has certainly come on a lot since his first run," said Lode. "And a although he looks as if he needs seven furlongs I would like to try him again over six furlongs and tackle the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket in the Autumn."

After that he will be dispatched to Dubai where he will join Saeed bin Suroor who will train him for a classic next year.

Suroor himself had been hoping to win the Yorkshire Oaks earlier in the afternoon with his dual classic winner Kazzia. But with the sun shining brightly the ground firmed up too much for his 1,000 Guineas and Oaks winner and she had to be content with 4th place behind the five length winner Islington.

Kazzia could still attempt the triple crown in the St Leger next month but she might switch to the Priz Vermielle in France if the ground gets too fast. As for Islington she was fantastic and Sir Michael Stoute will no doubt aim her at the Breeders Cup which this year will take place in Chicago in October.

Stoute's Golan who had beaten Nayef in such a thrilling to the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in July lost the rematch in York's big race on Tuesday when Nayef got his revenge in equally exciting style in the Juddmonte International.

Over the shorter distance of 10 furlongs Nayef was always going to be the one to beat and although Golan stayed on and challenged strongly in the closing stages Nayef was always going to win.

Nayef who is named after the old fort in Dubai was the second leg of a fantastic opening day double for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, and his retained jockey Richard Hills for they later won the Great Voltigeur with Bandari.

Bandari who had disappointed so badly in the Epson Derby looked the class colt he undoubtedly is and after greeting his 100th winner of the season trainer Mark Johnston said he would now step Bandari up in trip and aim him at the St. Leger, the world's oldest classic, at Doncaster next month.

James Given who used to be assistant to Mark Johnston has made great strides since setting up as a trainer in the heart of rural Lincolnshire and a Wednesday his 25 to 1 outsider Hugs Dancer battled home in Europe's richest handicap the Ebor.

This 14 furlong race which carries a first prize of £120,000 is the highlight of the three day York Meeting and jockey Dean McKeown who had won the race 10 years earlier on Quick Ransom revealed that to someone like himself who is based in the north and gets few rides in Group races this was like winning the Derby!

There was real controversy after the Convivial Maiden Stakes at York on Wednesday where punters besieged the weighing room after the judged announced Court Masterpiece had beaten Arctic Burst in the closest finish seen in years.

Many people thought Arctic Burst had won and after a quick glance at the photo finish print it does look as if the judge got it wrong but when you study it closely - and it took the judge nearly 10 minutes to make up his mind-it looks as if he called it right but it's marginal.

However it does beg the question that if the result is not detectable by the human eye then should it not be called a dead heat?

I am all for naming an outright winner but when it is so very very close and after 10 minutes with a magnifying glass I believe a dead heat would be the fairest outcome for the owners, trainers jockeys, punters and bookmakers.

Everyone would go home with a smile on their face instead of a sour taste in the mouth!