ALZERRA has steadily improved all season and followed up her recent Listed success with a clear-cut victory in the Group Three Willmott Dixon Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot.
The filly chased home Stan James 1000 Guineas favourite Sander Camillo at Newmarket in July and showed that run to be no fluke under a confident ride from Martin Dwyer.
Mick Channon's charge, sent off the 4-1 favourite after a late market plunge, swept from the back of the pack to beat Hoh Mike by a length and three-quarters. Enticing finished another two lengths back in third.
The money piled on Galtres Stakes winner Anna Pavlova in the EBF Willmott Dixon Harvest Stakes and despite winning well, her supporters had to survive a few anxious moments.
The 15-8 favourite was anchored towards the rear of the field by Paul Hanagan in the mile-and-a-half race but started to make up ground when the field split coming out of Swinley Bottom.
After nosing into the lead over a furlong out, the filly only had to keep going forward to win. However, she chose to veer left across the track and ended up on the stands rail.
But despite her wayward antics, Anna Pavlova still had too many guns and scored by five lengths and a neck from Trick Or Treat and Ti Adora.
Peppertree Lane forged clear under Kevin Darley to win the ladbrokes. com Heritage Handicap.
Mark Johnston's tough-asteak three-year-old has now won three of his last four starts, and still managed to finish in the mix when third at the Berkshire track last time out.
The 7-2 favourite hit the front at the two-furlong pole and never looked like being pegged back, eventually beating the staying-on St Savarin by a length and a quarter.
"He seems to love this softer ground and is a different horse on it, " said Johnston.
"They went too slow for him last time and it was the opposite here.
"They went too fast and he only came back on the bridle turning for home.
"We will see how he comes out of this but he could go to Naas next weekend and he will hopefully stay in training next year."
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