Northern raiders prosper at Newmarket

Yorkshire stables plundered a couple of decent prizes on the opening day of Newmarket`s `Champions` meeting this afternoon.

Mick Easterby`s southern raiding parties are always to be respected and Esyoueffcee saw off her 13 rivals to win the Listed Pearl and Coutts Severals Stakes.

But the Sheriff Hutton challenger had to survive a stewards` inquiry after the first four, who were line abreast, came together inside the final yards, hampering fourth-placed Riberac.

Winning rider Jimmy Fortune was found guilty of causing the interference and received a two-day suspension for careless riding (October 29th-30th).

At the line, Essyoueffcee (named phonetically after Sheffield United Football Club) scored by three-quarters of a length from Villa Carlotta with Gonchorova a short-head back in third.

Easterby`s assistant Robin O`Ryan said: 'She looked a picture in the paddock, she won `best turned-out` again and she has deserved that.

'We rode her too handy last time and, although Jimmy said she was keen again today, she has saved her speed for the finish.'

Asked about future plans for the three-year-old, O`Ryan smiled: 'I think the trainer has mapped out a campaign for her...in Yorkshire. He comes out in a rash if he has to go outside Yorkshire.'

In fact, Esyoueffcee`s future may lie on the other side of the Atlantic as she could be switched to race in the US next year.

Malton trainer John Quinn sent out his 17th winner of the turf season when Smart Predator (9-2) obliged in the Pearl and Coutts Rated Stakes.

The grey gelding came with his usual late run to catch Trace Clip and hold Chookie Heiton by three-quarters of a length.

Mesmeric returned to form with a bang in the opener, scoring at 20-1 in the Grosvenor Rated Stakes.

Emerald Fire popped up at 16-1 in the 19-runner Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy Nursery Handicap.

The Sharron Murgatroyd Selling Stakes was won by 11-2 chance Sainte Just, who was sold at the post-race auction for 13,500 guineas and is now likely to be trained by Willie Musson.

Runner-up Redisham also has a new owner after being claimed for Stg£10,000 by racing journalist Tony Stafford.