Racing Centre

BRYAN ADAMS may have been the king of The July Course on June 20 as the 2008 Newmarket Nights series opened. But he had a rival for his throne this afternoon as jockey George Baker rode a brilliant four-timer on the track.

Baker was in top form as he booted home Brunelleschi, Aphrodisia, Dubai Princess and Harald Bluetooth to complete a marvellous day at the office.

“Not bad,” he summed up with classic understatement. “I’ve had an across-the-card four-timer but never ridden four winners at the same meeting.”

He added: “The year is going well for me. Normally, I do fairly well on the all-weather and take longer to get going on the grass, but it’s carried over this year. I’m attached to some decent stables and it helps.”

One of Baker’s quartet was Brunelleschi who was trainer Pat Gilligan’s first runner since coming back from a 10-month break from the sport.

He took his licence out again last month and Brunelleschi ensured that Gilligan was back with a bang, scoring by a neck in the £800 Free At intercasino.co.uk handicap.

“He’s the only one I’ve got,” said Gilligan. “I’m just dipping my toe in the water at the moment, but it’s lovely to have a winner at Newmarket and it has been lucky place for us over the years.”

Meydan City, reportedly the second most expensive public auction yearling purchase of all time, suffered a debut defeat in the Play Blackjack At intercasino.co.uk Maiden. The $11.7million price-tag looked a heavy one as he could only come third at odds of 5/6 to the impressive Harald Bluetooth ridden by - who else - Baker.

Tony Rushmer