3 minute read

First-season trainer Olly Stevens opened his Group-race account when Green Door sprang a surprise in the Polypipe Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.

The 18-1 outsider of seven came from last to first under Jim Crowley to run out a comfortable winner of this Group Two dash over five furlongs.

Wind Fire looked like landing the spoils when she hit the front a furlong out but Green Door was produced with a rattling run on her outside to win by a length and a quarter.

For good measure, half a length away in third was Stevens' Extortionist, winner of the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The trainer is in America for the Keeneland Sales, but his wife, Hetta, said: "We thought we might only run Green Door as they were forecast a lot of rain last night but we couldn't be happier with the ground. You wouldn't know they'd had two days' racing.

"It's fantastic for the owners and both horses ran fantastic races. Green Door has come back to form and it may have been a little dead for Extortionist. I don't knows about plans. We'll have to see what the weather does."

Crowley said: "We dropped him in today. It worked out well and I managed to get him anchored. The ground was OK for him. I was following the right horse (Wind Fire) and he's proved himself today."

David Brown, trainer of runner-up Wind Fire, said: "She's rock-solid. I think we'll keep her to five. We'll look at the Cornwallis, maybe Ayr or France."