La Cucaracha clinches Nunthorpe

La Cucaracha (pink cap) wins the Nunthorpe by a head

La Cucaracha won the showpiece Nunthorpe Stakes on the third and final day of the Ebor meeting at York.

The Barry Hills-trained filly, ridden by Michael Hills, outpaced The Tatling over the Group One five furlong sprint on the Knavesmire.

The two 7-1 leaders held off 33-1 shot Majestic Missile in third with hot favourite Chineur (2-1) finishing fast after missing the start.

The Tatling has now finished runner-up in this race two straight times.

La Cucaracha made her move at the two-furlong mark to win by a head after Dandy Nicholls' representative Fire Up The Band and Boogie Street set a strong early pace.

The race went perfect, the split came with just a furlong to run and I had loads of horse under me Michael Hills

Chineur, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, was left with too much to do, while the Richard Hannon-trained Boogie Street held on for fourth.

Michael Hills said: "It's a good feeling. She quickened so well for me.

"But as soon as she got to the front she thought she'd done enough - she nearly gave me a heart attack.

"I felt I had enough horse to keep in front, but she was just pulling up when I got to the lead.

"She's improved and improved and she loves this surface.

"The race went perfect, the split came with just a furlong to run and I had loads of horse under me."

We had a gun to our heads much sooner than you would normally want Mick Channon

Milton Bradley, trainer of The Tatling, said: "We would have got her in two more strides.

"The other horse got first run and we just had a shade of traffic problems.

"I'm very pleased but frustrated and very proud of the horse. He's the most consistent sprinter in the country."

Earlier, the Mick Channon-trained Flashy Wings extended her unbeaten run to four races with victory in the Group Two Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes.

The Zafonic filly, under Ted Durcan, was sent off the 10-11 favourite, and held off La Chunga (2-1) to win by a length.

Kieren Fallon's mount Beauty Bright was third, a further length back.

Channon said: "We always thought she was special and we had to make the decision whether to come here. But I don't like changing from what we've always done with the fillies.

"She's good but I think she will be better ridden with a chance. I just felt because everyone thought she was the best, we had a gun to our heads much sooner than you would normally want.

"I would have thought the Cheveley Park would be the plan now."

Ladbrokes responded to Flashy Wings' victory by making her the 8-1 favourite for the 1000 Guineas from 10-1.

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VC Bet Nunthorpe Stakes
Group One 5f
1 La Cucaracha (M Hills) 7-1
2 The Tatling (R L Moore) 7-1
3 Majestic Missile (J Fortune) 33-1
16 ran. Dist: hd, l

Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes
Group Two, 6f
1 Flashy Wings (T Durcan) 10-11f
2 La Chunga (J Spencer) 2-1
6 ran. dist l.