Royal win for Fitzsimons Apprentice Paul Fitzsimons has developed the magic touch with Bali Royal who provided him with his biggest success in the £40,000 Ductform Ventilation (UK) Scottish Sprint Cup Stakes at Musselburgh today. Bali Royal struck the front with a furlong to race in the five furlong dash and Fitzsimons kept Milton Bradley`s game mare going well to hold on in a thrilling four-way photo finish. Second spot went to Elvington Boy for the second year running, the gelding finishing only a short head down with Ptarmigan Ridge a head away in third and Bali Royal`s stable companion Salviati a further neck away in third. Naas-born Fitzsimons, 23, is with Richard Hannon, and he said: 'Bali Royal takes a bit of knowing but she is a very good filly, very tough and very game. Mr Bradley has been very good to me and it is nice to ride a big race winner for him.' Bradley is based 375 miles away at Chepstow, and he was full of praise for Fitzsimons, reasoning: 'Take nothing away from Kevin Darley who also rides the filly well, but Paul gets on very well with her too, he is a very good rider - he rode 30 winners for me last season and it seems I am the only one who thinks he is good! 'Bali Royal won her first race here, a maiden handicap so that seems a long way off now! But don`t forget, Salviati is a very good horse too and he has run a cracking race.'
