Dead heat in Ayr Gold Cup for first time

The Ayr Gold Cup, in one guise or another, has been run since 1804 but until yesterday there had never been a deadheat. Despite state of the art photo-finish equipment, the judge could not split Son of Rest from Baron Bolt in Scotland’s most prestigious Flat race.

A furlong out, Son of Rest, runnerup in a Group One at The Curragh six days earlier and a well-backed 5-1 favourite, had shot clear and looked like he had Ireland’s first Ayr Gold Cup in the bag for trainer Fozzy Stack.

But Paul Cole’s 28-1 shot Baron Bolt emerged from the pack, went after him and may even have headed him close home before Son of Rest, possibly idling in front, responded to the challenge. The pair flashed past the line in unison way clear of the third.

It was Tipperary trainer Stack’s biggest winner since he took over from his father Tommy and a welcome return to the big time for Cole, who trained 1991 Derby winner Generous.

“He’s a nice horse who seems to be getting better,” said Cole. “Cameron [Noble] said he got a bit squeezed two out but it was a fair result.”

Stack said: “I’ll take a dead heat. He ran a great race six days ago and hasn’t done much all week so were hoping he was still in good shape.”

Bernard Kantor’s Young Rascal, who had been a Derby hopeful in June, put up a gutsy performance to beat Mirage Dancer by a short-head in the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup at Newbury.

Trainer William Haggas said: “He’s been crying out for the rain. That’s the first time he’s looked happy since the Derby.”