Marcus Tregoning’s only previous appearance at Yarmouth prior to yesterday was back in October 1998 when a certain Dubai Millennium broke his maiden tag in finishing five lengths clear of the trainer’s Tabareeh.
But happily for the Lambourn handler, his return to the course brought a victory with Mulaqat opening his account at the fourth attempt when winning the seven-furlong European Breeders Fund Maiden.
The Singspiel colt, held up in touch for much of the contest, sprung to life in the final furlong after jockey Richard Hughes had given him a reminder.
Tregoning’s charge quickened impressively and surged past Always Emirates and Best Alibi en route to a length-and-a-quarter win.
Tregoning said: “I’m obviously very pleased with him and he picked up well for Richard. This is only the second time I’ve been here. The first time Dubai Millennium beat my two-year-old Tabareeh. It was pouring with rain and I hadn’t been here since!”
Asawer won a thrilling renewal of the Free Archive Video On attheraces.com John Musker Fillies’ Stakes when she held on by half a length from the fast-finishing Coqueteria.
Jockey Richard Hills gave the Sir Michael Stoute-trained three-year-old a peach of a ride in the £30,000 (€44,600) Listed contest staged over 10 furlongs.
Squaw Dance made most but Hills had Asawer never far off the pace and he produced her to lead inside the final 75 yards, heading Shared Dreams.
The daughter of Darshaan was then kept up to her work right until the line by Hills with the pair roared on by a large crowd, many of whom had clearly backed the 2-1 favourite.
Hills said: “This was the right race for her.
“My filly had stayed well in the Ribblesdale, so I was pleased there was a good pace and luckily she got there in the end.
“She made a bit hard work of it but she’d never let you have it easy, anyway.”
Stoute also triumphed with Erytheis, who was sent off a warm order at odds of 2-5 but had to work hard to justify that price in the European Breeders Fund Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
The daughter of Theatrical, runner-up in both of her previous races, was slowly away from the stalls and still had plenty on her plate approaching the final two furlongs.
But jockey Kieren Fallon got to work and drove his mount to the front half a furlong from home and the duo just managed to hold at bay Godolphin newcomer Saffwah and the late-thrusting Miss Thailand.
Fallon’s talents were also evident in the Aylsham Bathroom and Kitchen Centre Stakes in which he rode 6-1 shot Clueless to a neck victory.
The striking-looking Royal Applause gelding mustered his second success of the season after passing Oligarch a furlong out before going on to score by a neck from Clipperdown.
Maureen Haggas, wife of trainer William, said: “He’s just a big baby and I think a winter on his back will do him the world of good. But he has run a really nice race and you couldn’t fault him.
“He’ll be a fun horse next year.”
There was a sting in the tail for Fallon, who was suspended for one day (September 25) after the stewards deemed he was guilty of careless riding.
John Berry was on target for the second successive day at the Eastern Festival with La Gessa clinching the Danny Wright Selling Stakes.
The two-length win took Berry’s strike-rate in the last fortnight up to 50 per cent, the Newmarket trainer having saddled four winners from eight runners.
Boundless Prospect held off the late charge of Killena Boy to win the Sea-Deer Handicap under Michael Fenton.
The rider doubled up in the finale as the Constitution Motors Great Yarmouth Handicap went the way of the Stef Liddiard-trained Tyzack.