Yarmouth races: Sly’s delight as Speciosa filly Vernatti conjures up memories of her mum

Peterborough trainer Pam Sly was thrilled when Vernatti, a Speciosa filly, won Great Yarmouth's 10-furlong handicap under Rob Hornby yesterday.

Speciosa won the 1,000 Guineas in 2006 and gave birth to her eighth foal, on Monday, to cap a special 48 hours for the trainer.

'Speciosa's fillies are always better than her colts,' she said, recalling the day 11 years ago when Speciosa provided her with the highlight of her career.

Vernatti, having her fourth career start, looked boxed in, but once she found a gap she surged clear to win at 11/2.

'I think she's going to be all right; she just needs to grow up a bit,' said Sly.

There were smiling bookies when 50/1 outsider Zubaidah took the 11-furlong handicap. Edward Greatrex kept her up to her work from a wide draw and when he went for home none of the fancied runners could land a blow.

Graceful Lady ran on for second and favourite Hint of Grey was third. It was her first win in 24 starts, having her second run for trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam since leaving Heather Dalton's yard.

Favourite followers had a good start when Roger Varian's To Wafij took the five-furlong sprint on debut under Andrea Atzeni, winning by a length from Choice Encounter and Validator.

Varian's assistant trainer Felix Le Lepeudry was pleased with the 13/8 favourite, the stable's first two-year-old winner of the season.

But Bequia, sent off 4/9 favourite for the second race, was only third in the five-strong field.

The 9/4 chance Ocelot under Luke Morris won, having her first run for trainer Robert Cowell since moving from Tim Easterby's Yorkshire base.

'She was honest and could win again given good going,' said Morris, back on a winner after escaping unscathed from a fall the previous day.

Another odds-on chance, Across Dubai, also failed, when beaten by Indian Dandy under Tom Queally for Marco Botti, the 16/1 winner on turf debut.

When Wahiba won the finale at 7/2, it completed a 66/1 double for Botti while winning jockey Atzeni completed a first and last race double.

Taurean Star, under Jamie Spencer for Michael Bell, took the seven-furlong feature, in a tight finish at 4/1, just beating Horstead Keynes and Firmdecisions.