Nicholls sprinters dominate July Cup

David Nicholls put a spoke in the wheels of the Aidan O`Brien juggernaut by landing an amazing one-two with Continent and Bahaman Pirate in the Group One Darley July Cup at Newmarket today.

The Thirsk-based trainer is best known for his exploits in handicaps and his runners had each made their name by winning the Ayr Gold Cup.

But neither looked out of place in Europe`s most prestigious six-furlong race as they swooped on the leaders on either side of the course in the closing stages.

Darryll Holland produced 12-1 shot Continent on the inside rail to lead well inside the final furlong and though his mount hung right he had enough in reserve to hold off Richard Hughes on Bahamian Pirate (16-1) on the outside by half a length.

The 5-2 favourite Danehurst was another length and a half back in third with Landseer - the flag-bearer for Irish trainer O`Brien who was bidding for his sixth British Group One victory of 2002 - only fourth.

Neither of the supplementary entries recouped the #15,000 it cost to put them in the race, with Millennium Dragon fifth and Malhub seventh.

Nicholls` only previous success in the highest grade had come when his Ya Malak dead-heated with Coastal Bluff in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in 1997.

'It can`t get better than having first and second in a race like this,' he said.

'I keep asking people to pinch me and make me wake up.'

Neither of his Edward St George-owned pair had previously won a race this season but the trainer was not surprised to see them run so well.

'Continent has been frustrating this year but it came right today,' he said.

'And Bahamian Pirate was second in the Prix de l`Abbaye last year so he was entitled to run well.'

Holland believed a position on the favoured inside part of the track made the difference for Continent.

'He just needed a bit of luck and today he got it,' the jockey said. 'I knew if he got some luck he could win - I knew he could make the transition from handicaps to Group company.

'I was drawn three and I thought the better strip of ground was on that side so I stayed there.

'This is my first Group One winner since I won the Eclipse on Compton Admiral in 1999 but I have had a pretty good season as I won the Italian and German 2000 Guineas.'

Hughes also believed the draw played a big part, saying of Bahamian Pirate: 'Being drawn on the near side probably went against us. He`s run a big race all the same.'

Nicholls is the first Yorkshire trainer to take the July Cup since Mick Easterby struck with Lochnager in 1976, and both his runners could be seen next in their home county.

'They could both run in the Nunthorpe,' Nicholls said. 'Mr St George plays hell about running more than one in the same race but I don`t mind running two, three or 10 - if they are capable of running well why not run them?'

Pat Eddery, on board Twilight Blues, lost virtually all chance of claiming a third July Cup victory at the start.

The 11-time champion jockey explained: 'They put the blindfold on him in the stalls but it got stuck on his bridle and it wouldn`t come off. We lost a lot of ground.'

In the circumstances his mount did very well to finish ninth of 14, a place ahead of morning gamble Reel Buddy.