DAY one of Salisbury Racecourse’s Summer Holiday Racing meeting on Wednesday (August 13), which consisted of six races, saw most winners do so from the upper end of the betting market, while the most significant achievement of the day was a double for the jockey-trainer combination of William Buick and John and Thady Gosden.

Read on for a full report of Salisbury’s Wednesday card, courtesy of Sporting Life.

The first race was a six-furlong two-year-olds’ novice (2.30pm), in which Andrew Balding’s colt Five Ways, a son of Kameko, jumped out of the stalls as favourite at 2/1.

His next closest market rival was Crown Of Light at 9/4, who had won over course and distance back in July. The favourite, however, made all and could not be passed, eventually crossing the line under Jason Watson five lengths ahead of the rest.

Next was a mile handicap (3pm). Brian Toomey’s Flag Carrier was the favourite at 5/2, despite carrying near top-weight, followed closely in the betting by Stuart Kittow’s Sunny Corner at 3/1, who was close to the favourite in the handicap but had the advantage of a five-pound claimer in the saddle.

Both market leaders were held up in the rear but began to edge forward at the halfway stage into the lead. With five-pounds in hand, Sunny Corner finished far more strongly of the two and won by a very impressive seven lengths.

Race three was the two-year-olds’ Listed Stonehenge Stakes, run over a mile (3.30pm). There were only three runners here; the Godolphin-owned Morris Dancer (11/10), Clive Cox’s A Bit Of Spirit (5/6F) and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Mystic Moment (20/1).

The favourite was keen in front as the field went along in a string, but when William Buick asked his mount for effort, he overtook quickly and beat the favourite by four lengths.

A six-furlong novice followed (4pm). Jamie Osborne’s Palio Di Siena was the favourite at 8/11, dropping back down in trip to six furlongs for the first time.

He led the field under Saffie Osborne and was quickening towards the finish, but ultimately fell victim to the lower weight of Mark Usher’s Rhyme Dust, who carried five pounds less and won by nearly as many lengths under Tom Marquand.

The penultimate race was the Listed Upavon Fillies’ Stakes (4.30pm), run over a mile and a quarter. Owen Burrows’ Azaniya was the favourite at 5/4, having won her last two starts, followed by Ralph Beckett’s Revoir as second market leader at 11/4, and the Gosden’s filly Miss Justice at 11/2.

11/1 shot Ambiente Amigo led the charge into the closing stages, but was soon overtaken by Miss Justice and Revoir, who crossed the line together but with the former a head in front. The favourite finished fourth by five lengths.

Finally, the afternoon concluded with a mile and a quarter handicap (5pm). Offiah’s Boy was our favourite, and was prominent all the way around so never gave backers cause to doubt him.

The 11/2 Racing Demon was slowly away and lost a lot of ground at the start, but caught up to the main field and finished very strongly to get into second position behind the favourite, despite hanging, and crossed the line just half a length behind him.

Salisbury results – Wednesday:

• 2.30pm – Five Ways (2/1F)
• 3pm – Sunny Corner (3/1)
• 3.30pm – Morris Dancer (11/10)
• 4pm – Rhyme Dust (15/2)
• 4.30pm – Miss Justice (11/2)
• 5pm – Offiah’s Boy (5/2F)